DEPARTEMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

INSTITUTE OF LAN ADMINSTRATION

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
INTRODUCTION OF LAND SCAPE
DESIGN
GROUP MEMBERS ID

Bitanya Mesfin 1505545

Helina Hilu 1506569

Tsedey Abiy 150804

 CASE STUDY OF NEW YORK CITY
CENTERAL PARK

INTRODUCTION
The history of New Yorks 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 Parks 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.

Location : Central Park fits itself in the center of Manhattan in, New York City.
: The region of Manhattan Classified/Remarked for skyscrapers

Area : Central Park is the Fifth-largest Park in New York City. 3The 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 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.

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 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,