Central Park
A green oasis in the urban jungle
What has a six-mile perimeter and covers 843 acres, including 136 acres of woodlands, 250 acres of lawns and 150 acres of water in seven bodies of water? New York City’s green oasis, Central Park, which has graced the middle of Manhattan for over a century. The park also offers 58 miles of pedestrian paths, 21 playgrounds, 4.5 miles of bridle paths, 6.5 miles of Park drives and seven miles of benches (nearly 9,000). Completely man-made, America’s first public park is also a National Historic Landmark and a New York City Landmark. And with 25 million annual visitors, Central Park is the most frequently visited urban park in the U.S.
The park offers an impressive schedule of year-round concerts, plays and activities; perfect people-watching opportunities and a respite in the middle of an urban concrete jungle. It is also the most filmed public park in the world, with more than 240 feature films containing scenes in Central Park released since 1908; countless TV shows have also filmed in the park.
The private, not-for-profit Central Park Conservancy manages and provides all basic care of the park under a contract with the New York City Department of Parks?& Recreation. Since its inception in 1980, the Conservancy has invested more than $450 million in donations into the park; it also provides 85 percent of Central Park's $25 million annual operating budget.
Plan your park visit and itinerary using the Central Park Conservancy's website (www.centralparknyc.org). In addition to a virtual guide to park attractions, the site lists special events and has a map you can print out. A Conservancy-operated guided walking tour offers visitors the ultimate freebie: the chance to learn all about the park’s history, flora and fauna. The best part? No reservations are required.
Central Park
14 E. 60th St.
New York, NY, 10022
212-310-6600
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