Central Park
Central Park, which receives approximately 35 million visitors annually, is the most visited urban park in the United States. It is one of those places that make New York such a great place to live. The Park was constructed over 150 ago, during the American Civil War. Especially during the weekends, when cars are not allowed into the park, Central Park is a great place to enjoy a bit of relaxation in the heart of the concrete jungle of New York City.
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Strawberry Fields
A tear-drop shaped area of Central Park near the Dakota building, where John Lennon lived and was murdered. It is named after The Beatles song Strawberry Fields Forever. Its focal point is a reproduction of a mosaic from Pompeii donated by the city of Naples with Imagine added to the center.
More information and photos - Strawberry Fields on Wikipedia or Central Park Official Website
Belvedere Castle
Built as a Victorian folly (decorative building) in 1869, Belvedere castle was later used by the National Weather Service to take measurements of the wind speed and direction from the castle's tower, and other data, such as the rainfall, from a nearby compound. Belvedere means beautiful view in Italian and the name fits it well because the castle provides impressive views across Central Park and New York City.
More information and photos - Belvedere Castle on Wikipedia or Central Park Official Website
Angel of the Waters, Bethesda Fountain
Bethesda Terrace is a two level terrace united by two grand staircases. The upper terrace is the architectural culmination of the Mall and the lower terrace provides a podium for viewing the Lake. Since 1873, Bethesda Fountain is the central feature on the lower terrace. It was sculpted by Emma Stebbins, who was the first woman ever to be hired for a major public art work in New York City.
More information and photos - Bethesda Fountain on Wikipedia or Central Park Official Website
Cleopatra's Needle Obelisk
The obelisk is the oldest man-made object in Central Park. Cleopatra's Needle is the nickname for each of three obelisks moved from Egypt to London, Paris, and New York City in the nineteenth century. The London and New York ones are a pair, while the Paris one comes from a different original site, where its twin remains. Dispite their name, the obelisks were already over a thousand years old when Cleopatra was born.
More information and photos - Cleopatra's Needle on Wikipedia or Central Park Official Website
Alice in Wonderland
One of Central Park's most popular sculptures, Alice in Wonderland was ordered by publisher and philanthropist George Delacorte in honor of his wife, Margarita. It attracts many children to climb it, resulting in the bronze's glowing patina, polished by thousands of tiny hands over the years since the sculpture was unveiled in 1959.
More information and photos - Alice in Wonderland on Central Park Official Website
The Mall
The Mall is a promenade leading to the Bethesda Terrace, flanked by American elm trees. When the Park was designed 150 years ago, the Mall was a place for park visitors to parade in their Sunday best. It was designed so that a carriage could leave its passengers at the south end, then drive round and pick them up again overlooking Bethesda Terrace.
More information and photos - The Mall on Wikipedia or Central Park Official Website
Wollman Skating Rink
Ice skating is a long-standing tradition in Central Park – as old as the Park itself. The first part of Central Park to open to the public was the Lake, in 1858, and it was first used for skating that same winter. Now, these water bodies closed to skaters and the Wollman Rink continues the tradition. During the summertime, Wollman Skating Rink turns into an amusement park.
More information and photos - Wollman Skating Rink on Wikipedia or Central Park Official Website