Central Park
Central Park · New York (Manhattan), USA
843 acres of green in the middle of Manhattan, the breakthrough work of Frederick Law Olmsted, father of American landscape architecture.
Know before you go
- Don't cycle or skateboard in prohibited areas
- don't feed squirrels or birds
- keep off lawns closed for maintenance
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
The Greensward Plan and the vanished Seneca Village
In April 1858 the park commission chose Olmsted and Vaux's 'Greensward Plan'. It was the first urban park Olmsted designed with Vaux; he went on to design a series of city parks and is regarded as the founder of American landscape architecture. But the park came at a cost: before work began in 1857, the city took the land and demolished the existing settlements on the site, including Seneca Village, a community of mostly Black residents.
Source: Wikipedia: Central Park; Wikipedia: Frederick Law Olmsted
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
In 1858 Olmsted and Vaux won the design competition with their 'Greensward Plan'. Work on the park began in 1857; to build it, the city took and demolished existing settlements on the site, including Seneca Village, a community of mainly Black residents. The first areas opened to the public at the end of 1858, and the whole park was completed in 1876. Today it covers 843 acres (341 hectares) and is the most visited urban park in the US, with an estimated 42 million visits a year in 2016.
Local customs
- New Yorkers treat it as their backyard: running, walking dogs, picnicking and ice skating in winter
- whether lawns are open depends on the signs posted
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Driving in the US: what to do when police pull you over
- Signal right and pull over safely to the right
- Roll down your window after stopping, before the officer reaches you
- At night, turn on the interior light
- Keep both hands on the wheel and ask passengers to keep their hands visible too
- Getting out and walking towards the police car
- Suddenly reaching for the glovebox, a pocket or under the seat
Sudden movements may be read as a threat and become dangerous. The wording of the rules varies slightly between states.
Not yet verifiedSource: Texas Department of Public Safety driver handbook
Don’t DON'T
- Don't cycle or skateboard in prohibited areas
- don't feed squirrels or birds
- keep off lawns closed for maintenance
- don't go alone into isolated areas late at night
Locals appreciate DO
New Yorkers appreciate visitors who cycle in the cycle lanes, run on the running paths and stay out of the way.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | Mornings in spring and autumn |
|---|---|
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
Travel tips
- The southern end, around Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, is the easiest way in
- Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, Bow Bridge and Strawberry Fields (the John Lennon memorial) make a good walk
- the park is big, so you can rent a bike
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