DEPARTEMENT OF

ARCHITECTURE
INSTITUTE OF LAND
ADMINSTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
INTRODUCTION OF LAND SCAPE DESIGN

CASE STUDY OF NEW YORK CITY CENTERAL

PAR

GROUP MEMBERS ID
Bitaniya mesfin 1505545
Helina hilu 1506569
Tsedey abiy 1508042
Location : Central Park fits itself in the center of Manhattan in, New York City.

: The region of Manhattan Classified/Remarked for skyscrapers 3

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).3

General Information

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

 Designated New York Cit‟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 a 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 green spaces. 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 housing4.

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 4the 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 Park5.

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 Wolman rink

2. 21 playgrounds

3. Famed sculptures like „Alice in Wonderland.5

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

1. Sports

2. Baseball and Softball

3. Basketball

4. Bicycle Riding

5. Bird Watching

6. Boating

7. Chess

8. Ice Skating

9. Lawn Sports

10. Model Sailboats

11. Paddleball

12. Running

13. New York City Marathon

14. Sledding

15. Soccer

16. Tennis

17. In-line Skating

18. Fishing
19. Activities in the Central Park

20. Volleyball

21. Wall Climbing

22. Play Grounds

23. Relaxation
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.

.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.

▎
 Conclusion

In this case study of Central Park, we see how important it is to New York City. The park is not
just a place for people to relax; it also represents many ideas about city life, nature, and
community.

Literature shows us that Central Park is a peaceful escape from the busy city. Writers like Walt
Whitman and J.D. Salinger highlight its role as a place for reflection and connection. The park
brings together people from different backgrounds, making it a symbol of unity in a diverse city.

Today, Central Park continues to be relevant, especially during challenging times like the
COVID-19 pandemic, when it became a vital space for fresh air and social interaction.
Overall, Central Park is more than just a park; it is a cultural landmark that reflects the lives of
those who visit it. Its importance in literature and society shows that it will always be a
cherished part of New York City.

References

Google.com ,Researchgate.net ,centeralparknyc.org,