Central Park Is New York’s Most Famous Park
Read more articles on Travel and Parks and Zoos.August 18, 2008
Posted by neillevine
August 18, 2008
Posted by neillevine
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With this summer’s addition of balloon rides, at Bethesda Fountain near 72nd Street, kiddie rides, at the site of the winter ice skating rink under the banner Victorian Gardens, and concerts, Central Park’s reputation is being pushed beyond the traditional limits of a public park into the more trafficked realm of entertainment zone.
It is a fairly big park stretching from 59th Street in Midtown, part of New York’s Central Business District, to 110th Street in Harlem, a quieter residential neighborhood.
My recollection of my earliest visit to the park was on a weekend with my older cousin, Michael, the one who died last year. Our objective was to sail his radio controlled battery powered motor boat in a pond called Conservatory Water way up on 72nd Street. I believe we took the bus and did it more than once so pleased was he with his experience with his expensive toy. At the time, there were many other park goers doing the same thing and a check of the Central Park web sites says that people still do this and that boats are available for rent. Wow. I guess it is like kite flying or ball playing or even picnicking, other things you can do in Central Park, if you have a mind to.
I have also been in the park merely to enjoy its beauty as well as for walking tours, music, and theater in the park. Through the years, I have found there are people knowledgeable about the wildlife and flora growing in inside as well as others who are experts in Park history. There are even people with horse riding expertise, although you have to call the Riverdale Equestrian Centre at 254th Street in the Bronxto make an appointment since the Manhattan based riding academy closed not so long ago when the owner decided he wanted to retire and sold out to a real estate developer.
In recent visits, I have found the park packed at the Columbus Circle end and merely crowded on the Fifth Avenue end. My visits to the Delacorte Theatre for free Shakespeare In The Park have always been in the midst of crowds of people.
There is even fine dining at Tavern on the Green on the West Side and the Boathouse Restaurant, where romantic rowing rentals can be arranged. There is also an eating facility at the Central Park Zoo and snacks can be bought at the Delacorte Threater when it is open. Don’t forget those ubiquitous push carts that can be found all over the place.
As for supplemental neighborhood attractions, Central surrounded by museums such as the Museum of Natural History, the New York Historical Society, the Guggenheim, Cooper Hewitt, Museum of the City of New York amongst others as well as famous land ABC headquarters are near Tavern On Green near 66th Street and the CBS Morning Show is broadcast from the General Motors Building on 59th Street.
Ironically, even though it may be the most famous park, at 843 acres, it is only the fifth biggest in New York City. The above mentioned Van Cortlandt Park is over 1,000 acres and Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the home of the Queens Zoo, which I have previously written about, is also way bigger. The Mayor has recently pointed out that New York City has more than 1,700 parks so while Central Park is a beautiful park it is not required visiting. For further amplification, read my essay about my visit to Flushing Meadows Corona Park to find out what that park entails.
During the summer, there are also programs available such as summer camp to enrich the lives of kids who live nearby. The Lasker recreation facilitynear 110th Street is not only an ice skating rink in the winter, but is used as a swimming pool in the summer and taking entertainment to the next level, several movies have been filmed in the park.
So Central Park enjoys a lot of use and has earned its place in New York City’s cultural fabric. I expect my next essay to be about a visit to the Central Park Zoo.
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