New York City’s Central Park officially opened more than 140 ago and remains the largest and most important public park in Manhattan. This world class urban park occupies an area of 840 acres smack dab in the very heart of one of the world’s most bustling cities. The park’s terrain and vegetation are highly varied and range from flat grassy swards, gentle slopes, and shady glens to steep, rocky ravines. Central Park provides picture perfect vistas at nearly every point.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is in the park, facing Fifth Avenue. There are also a zoo, an ice-skating rink, 3 small lakes, an open-air theatre, a band shell, many athletic playing fields and children’s playgrounds, several fountains, and hundreds of small monuments and plaques scattered through the area.
No visit to the park is complete without stopping at Strawberry Fields, a 2.5 acre tribute to songwriter, musician, peace activist and Beatle, John Lennon. Don’t forget to catch the famous carriage ride for a horse eye view of the park.
Visit: Central Park: (between 59th and 110th streets / and between Fifth and Eighth avenues); Strawberry Fields (between 71st and 74th Streets); Central Park Conservancy, 14 East 60th St, New York; 212-310-6600; centralparknyc.org
