Location: Central Park fits itself in the center of Manhattanin, New York City.

:The region of
Manhattan in
Classified/Remarked for skyscrapers

Area :Central Park is the Fifth-largest park in New York City.

The massive park spreads over an area of; 843 acres or 341 ha or 3.41 km² (4 km × 800 m).

General Information

Central Park is a Masterpiece of landscape architecture designed in the 19th century.

Designated New York City‟s First attractive Landmark in 1974 which is the Central Park.
Central Park is the Most visited city park in the United States with 40 million visitors in 2013.

 One of the most crowded areas with an desirable skyline.

 One of the most filmed locations in the world.

INTRODUCTION
The history of New York’s Central Park is inextricably linked with the social and cultural history of the

City; the history of the park movement in this country; the birth and evolutions of the professions of

landscape architecture, city planning, and urban park management; and ever-changing notions about

recreation, democracy, and the role of public space in relation to both. Inquiry into the Park’s more

than 150 years of physical, social, natural, and cultural history — from those who seek to learn from it

and those who seek to care for it — is constant.

New York City has over 30,000 acres of parkland, with a wide variety of parks, forests, open spaces and
linear parks

(trails or greenways). A host of public, nonprofit, for-profit organizations, and individual volunteers,
work to program,

maintain and improve these parks and greenspaces. In the months since COVID-19 fundamentally
altered urban living,

these organizations have contended with unprecedented park use in the face of budget cuts, requiring
greater support.

The Central Park Conservancy Institute for Urban Parks (Institute) was asked by the founders of the NYC
Green Relief

and Recovery Fund to perform a literature review on a series of critical park-related issues in New York
City to inform
the development of a request for proposal (RFP) for a third round of green funding to be provided in the
fall of 2020.
The Economic Benefits of Parks

The economic benefits of parks are one of the best understood and well-documented. Projected
economic impact is also a growing part of new park development or redevelopment of existing parks.
This includes the concept of value capture or funding a park by capturing a portion of the increased
economic value in surrounding private property. Numerous studies have linked positive economic
impact to well-run parks.

However, the economic impact of parks can also be a loaded issue. Parks like the 606 in Chicago, the
Beltline in Atlanta, and the High Line in Manhattan, were high stakes projects driven by a combination of
public officials (eager to get work started) and small nonprofit boards (looking for public investment)
that had complicated impacts on the surrounding community. Further, they took place in areas already
gentrifying and some (but not all) of the decisions made resulted in net loss of low- and moderate-
income housing.

Form and sprit of the park

Contrast with the context

1. Green & Open space Vs Urban Grey & congested spaces.

2. Formal outline within grid planned city put Organic inside.

 Located in the midst of the busy and Congested life of New Yorkers but regards as place for
meditation.

Building and construction the park

 Central Park present a Lungs for the city.

 Before the construction of the park could start, the area had to be cleared of its inhabitants, most of
whom were quite poor.
 Between 1858 -1873,
 The construction of the park had come a long way, and most of the major obstacles had been
overcome.

 During this period, more than 14,000 m³ of topsoil had been transported in from New Jersey, as the
original soil wasn't good enough to sustain the various trees, shrubs and the plants the “Greensward
Plan” called for.

 Also included were the more than four million (trees, shrubs & plants) representing the approximately
1,500 species which were to lay the foundation for today's park.Building & Construction the Park.
Around the turn of the 20th Century
The Park faced several new challenges;

 Cars had been invented and were becoming commonplace, bringing with them their burden of
pollution.
 The general mental view of the people was beginning to change. No longer were parks to be used only
for walks and picnics in an idyllic environment, but now also for sports, and similar recreation.
 During 1943, the Parks Commissioner & planner Robert Moses enhanced the Park by adding:
1. the Wollman rink

2. 21 playgrounds

3. Famed sculptures like „Alice in Wonderland.

Central park contains

1. A number of Lakes

2. The Reservoir

3. Sports facilities

4. Theaters

5. Central Park Zoo

6. Performance areas.

7. Metropolitan Museum of Art

Activities in central park

 Sports

 Baseball and Softball

 Basketball

 Bicycle Riding

 Bird Watching
 Boating

 Chess

 Ice Skating

 Lawn Sports

 Model Sailboats

 Paddleball

 Running

 New York City Marathon

 Sledding

 Soccer

 Tennis

 In-line Skating

 Fishing

Activities in the Central Park

 Volleyball

 Wall Climbing

 Play Grounds

 Relaxation

 Horse-Drawn Carriages

 Zoo

 Bouldering

 Cross-Country Skiing

HISTORIC RECORDS OF CENTRAL PARK

Central Park is an urban park between the Upper West Side and Upper
East Side neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City that was the
first landscaped park in the United States. It is the sixth-largest park in
the city, containing 843 acres (341 ha), and the most visited urban park
in the United States, with an estimated 42 million visitors annually as of
2016. It is also one of the most filmed locations in the world.

The creation of a large park in Manhattan was first proposed in the

1840s, and a 778-acre (315 ha) park approved in 1853. In 1858,
landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a
design competition for the park with their "Greensward Plan".
Construction began in 1857; existing structures, including a majority-
Black settlement named Seneca Village, were seized through eminent
domain and razed.

The park's first areas were opened to the public in late 1858. Additional
land at the northern end of Central Park was purchased in 1859, and
the park was completed in 1876. After a period of decline in the early
20th century, New York City parks commissioner Robert Moses started
a program to clean up Central Park in the 1930s.

The Central Park Conservancy, created in 1980 to combat further

deterioration in the late 20th century, refurbished many parts of the
park starting in the 1980s.
The park's main attractions include the Ramble and Lake, Hallett Nature
Sanctuary, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and Sheep
Meadow; amusement attractions such as Wollman Rink, Central Park
Carousel, and the Central Park Zoo; formal spaces such as the Central
Park Mall and Bethesda Terrace; and the Delacorte Theater.

The biologically diverse ecosystem has several hundred species of flora

and fauna. Recreational activities include carriage-horse and bicycle
tours, bicycling, sports facilities, and concerts and events such as
Shakespeare in the Park. Central Park is traversed by a system of roads
and walkways and is served by public transportation.

Land acquisition
The New York State Legislature passed the Central Park Act in 1853, which
authorized the city to use eminent domain to acquire the land for the park. The
land commission assessed over 34,000 lots in the area, and the city acquired the
land in exchange for compensation to the landowners. The total cost of the land
was $7.39 million, which is equivalent to $242 million in 2023.

Design contest
In 1857, the Central Park Commission held the first landscape design contest in
the United States. The winning plan was the "Greensward Plan," designed by
Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

RESIDENTS DISPLACED
The land that became Central Park was home to approximately 1,600 residents,
including free Black people and Irish immigrants. Most of the residents lived in
small villages, such as Pigtown and Seneca Village. All residents had to leave by
the end of 1857.
ANNUAL REPORTS

The Central Park Conservancy's annual reports provide details about the park's
management, operations, and sustainability:

2023

The Conservancy's 2023 annual report highlights the organization's strong

fundraising, but notes that the park's infrastructure and landscapes have been
impacted by unprecedented use. The report also mentions the Conservancy's
continued assistance to other parks in the five boroughs.

2022

The 2022 annual report discusses the Conservancy's fundraising success, but also
notes that concession revenues were significantly reduced. The report also
mentions the capital projects underway, including the renovation of the Dairy
Visitor Center and the reconstruction of the Conservatory Garden.

2020

The 2020 annual report describes how Central Park provided a place of peace and
inspiration for New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also
mentions the Conservancy's commitment to creating a plan for the park's
sustainability.

2019

The 2019 annual report discusses the Conservancy's focus on the park's
sustainability and the development of a seven-year plan to protect and enhance
the park.

DEPARTMENT OF PARK FILES

The New York City Department of Records and Information Services (DRIS) has a
collection of the Department of Parks General Files, which includes documents
from 1934–1966. The collection includes:

Incoming and outgoing correspondence, Memoranda, Transcripts, Reports,

Contracts, News clippings, Maps, and Blueprints.

The NYC Parks Photo Archive also has a collection of photos that researchers can
use. To use the collection, researchers can:

Fill out a Submission Form

Send a specific request by mail or fax

Arrange an appointment

Pre-pay a Processing and Rights Fee

PARK PLANS AND STUDIES

Bresnan, Adrianne & Joseph for New York City Department of Parks and
Recreation (NYCDPR). Master Plan: A Proposal for Program of Rehabilitation for
Central Park: Design and

Construction 1974 – 1984, 1973. This plan prepared by Parks Department staff
represents an effort to identify and prioritize capital project needs; the authors
proposed a phased program for addressing the Park’s severe deterioration.

Central Park Conservancy, 1985. This comprehensive plan for the restoration and
management of the Central Park has served as the framework for the work of
Central Park Conservancy
The Department of Parks and Recreation of New York City (NYC Parks) is
responsible for the management and maintenance of Central Park, but it doesn't
have a specifically named "Department of Park Plans and Studies" solely
dedicated to Central Park. Instead, Central Park's planning and studies are
handled through various divisions and teams within NYC Parks.

Planning and studies related to Central Park are generally approached:

• Long-Term Planning: NYC Parks develops comprehensive long-term plans for

Central Park, often incorporating public input through community engagement
processes. These plans address issues like infrastructure improvements,
ecological restoration, preservation of historical features, and recreational
enhancements. These plans are not single, static documents but are updated and
revised over time as needs and priorities change.

• Ongoing Maintenance and Management: A significant portion of the work

involves the day-to-day maintenance and management of Central Park's vast
infrastructure, including roads, paths, bridges, water features, and plantings. This
requires constant monitoring, repairs, and ongoing assessment.

• Specialized Studies: NYC Parks frequently commissions specialized studies, often

involving consultants and experts in fields like landscape architecture, ecology,
engineering, and history. These studies might focus on specific areas within the
park or address particular challenges, such as assessing the health of trees,
managing water resources, or restoring degraded habitats.
• Capital Projects: Large-scale infrastructure projects, such as renovations to the
Bethesda Terrace or the restoration of specific gardens, require detailed planning
and environmental impact assessments. These projects often involve substantial
funding and require extensive coordination with various city agencies.

GOVERNMENT AND MANAGEMENT REPORTS

Davis, Gordon, NYC Parks Commissioner. Report and Determination in the Matter
of Christo, The Gates, 1980.In this 1979 review of the artist Christo’s proposal to
install “The Gates” in Central Park, Commissioner Davis identified the criteria for
evaluating proposals for large events against their potential impact on the Park
and its users, and explained the City’s reasons for rejecting the proposal at that
time.Lindsay, Nancy, compiler. Highlights of the Panel Discussions and Responses:
Speak out for the Future of Central Park, 1978. Transcript of a public symposium
hosted by Manhattan Borough President Andrew J. Stein to address Central Park’s
alarming deterioration and generate discussion about ways to reverse its decline;
panelists included Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and the discussion included a
proposal to make Central Park part of the National Park System.NYC Department
of Parks and Recreation. Report and

Findings: Central Park Easter Egg Hunt, April 18, 1981. An internal report
conducted under NYC Parks Commissioner Gordon

Davis addressed the subject of management of Central Park events, in the context
of an analysis of problems arising from inadequate planning and coordination for
the Park Department’s 1981 Easter Egg Hunt.

New York Interface Development Project for The Central Park Community Fund.
An Evaluation of Alternative Governance Proposals for Central Park, 1978.
Drawing heavily on the 1976 Savas study and the premise that the most
important requirement for improved management was to establish the Park as a
unified entity for management purposes, this report analyzed the range of
governance mechanisms that had been proposed for the Park, and concluded by
recommending the establishment of a park administrator and a board of
guardians serving in a fundraising and advisory capacity. (Elizabeth Barlow was
appointed Park Administrator in 1979, and the Conservancy was founded in
1980).

Savas, E. S. for Columbia University. A Study of Central Park, 1976. This study was
commissioned from Columbia professor of Public Administration E.S. Savas by
concerned citizens Richard Gilder and George Soros, who founded the Central
Park Community Fund.

ARCHITECTS

Central Park wasn't designed by a single architect, but rather by a team led by
landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Their design,
submitted anonymously and winning a competition in 1857, was groundbreaking
and fundamentally shaped the park we know today.

While Olmsted is often given primary credit, it's crucial to acknowledge Vaux's
significant contributions. Their collaboration was vital, and their design reflected a
unique synthesis of Olmsted's landscape architecture expertise and Vaux's
architectural skills.

Frederick Law Olmsted's Role:

Olmsted, considered a pioneer of landscape architecture, provided the overall
vision and design concept for Central Park. His expertise in creating naturalistic
landscapes, incorporating elements of both the picturesque and the sublime, was
instrumental. He focused on:

• Creating a naturalistic escape: Olmsted envisioned Central Park as an oasis from

the dense urban environment, providing a place for recreation and respite amidst
nature.

• Strategic planning: His design included a sophisticated system of paths,

walkways, and vistas, guiding visitors through the park and providing a variety of
experiences.

• Integrating natural and human-made elements: Olmsted cleverly blended the

natural topography with carefully planned features like lakes, meadows, and
woodlands.

Calvert Vaux's Role:

Vaux, an architect, played a crucial role in the design's more formal aspects. He
contributed significantly to:

• Architectural structures: Many of the park's iconic structures, such as Bethesda

Terrace and the Bow Bridge, were designed by Vaux, integrating seamlessly with
Olmsted's landscape design.

• Detailed planning: Vaux's architectural background brought a level of precision

and detail to the design, helping to translate Olmsted's vision into a concrete
plan.
• Engineering solutions: Vaux's understanding of engineering principles was
crucial in resolving challenges related to the park's infrastructure, such as
drainage and water management.

The Collaboration:

The partnership between Olmsted and Vaux was remarkably successful. Their
combined talents resulted in a design that is not only aesthetically pleasing but
also highly functional and enduring. It's a testament to the power of
interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving a complex and ambitious project.
While Olmsted's name is often mentioned first, recognizing Vaux's crucial
contributions is essential to fully understanding Central Park's creation. The park’s
design was a true collaborative effort.