Parks · Our pick in New York
Central Park: the back story
The back story
About Central Park: the back story
Central Park covers 843 acres between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West, from 59th to 110th Street, and the Central Park Conservancy cares for it every day.
The south end
Enter at Grand Army Plaza by the Plaza hotel for the Pond, Wollman Rink, the Central Park Zoo and the Mall, the elm-lined promenade that leads to Bethesda Terrace and its fountain.
The middle
Around the Lake you’ll find Bow Bridge, the Loeb Boathouse and Strawberry Fields; further north, the Great Lawn, Belvedere Castle and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, with the Met on the park’s east side and the Natural History Museum on the west.
The Central Park Conservancy keeps more than 400 people at work in the park every day of the year.
The north
Above 97th Street the park becomes wilder, with the North Woods, the Conservatory Garden and the Harlem Meer.
Tips
The Central Park Conservancy runs official tours (212-310-6600). Hire a bike, or walk from south to north in about two hours with stops.
Our advice: start at the Plaza in the morning and finish at the Met for lunch.
Why it's on our list
- The south end
- The middle
- The north
- Tips
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Central Park: the back story before you go.