Central Park in New York. Interesting Facts.
Central Park in New York. Interesting Facts.
Central Park was the first public landscape park in the United States. Park supporters (dating back to the 1850s) - and these were mostly landowners and merchants - admired the parks of Paris and London and urged the creation of the same recreational areas in New York - to improve the image of the city on the international stage. .
It was proposed to make a public park that would be a healthy (namely, in the sense of health) alternative to gatherings in "salons".
Interesting facts about Central Park:
- Central Park - it is literally central, located in the center of Manhattan Island.
- Central Park has a clear rectangular shape. Since the central part of Manhattan is strictly perpendicular vertical avenues and horizontal streets located under the ruler, the Park, located in the center of Manhattan Island, also has a clear rectangle shape.
- Central Park is very large, especially for a park - 4km long and almost 800m wide. The park has a larger area than the Principality of Monaco.
- Since 1908, New York's Central Park has appeared in over 240 films! This is the most filmed public park in the world!
- And the most interesting fact about the park: despite the fact that the Park looks very natural, almost all of it is the result of manual labor. That is, all these 25,000 trees, 7 reservoirs, "untouched corners of nature" and forests - all this is an artificially created territory by landscape designers.
And you can also see an interesting clock at the entrance to Central Park - here it is not the arrow that moves along the dial, but the dial itself turns. As they say, time is running out. And the arrow only counts it.
Currently, New York's Central Park is not only a beautiful area. It is also a place of rest for millions of people, both New Yorkers and tourists. According to statistics, more than 30 million people visit Central Park annually. In addition to walking along the shady alleys or picnicking on the huge lawns, the park offers a lot of entertainment.
These include sports activities (yoga, pilates, fitness, Central Park 5K Fun Run running “tours”) and sightseeing tours – on carriages, bicycles or on foot, there are basketball and football grounds, bike rental, the Zoo. There are more than 20 playgrounds for children in the park.
Moreover, the park has something to do at any time of the year. Shakespeare's plays are staged in the park's amphitheater in summer. In winter, a skating rink is made on the territory of the lake. The park hosts interesting excursion tours "Secrets of Central Park" or "Movie tours" , during which you can visit and see the locations where filming for Hollywood films and shows took place, such as " Ghostbusters", "Spider-Man-3", "Home Alone 2", "Friends", "Sex and the City" and others. Central Park also boasts numerous statues of iconic figures and stunning architectural structures.
Bethesda Terrace is a beautiful structure consisting of an upper and lower terrace connected by two grand staircases. From the top there is a magnificent view of the lake and various park areas. And the lower terrace leads to the equally beautiful Bethesda Fountain .
Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, New York
Throughout its history (since 1863), Bethesda Terrace has changed its appearance more than once and has been used for various purposes. In the 1960s there was a restaurant there. And in the 70s, this place was generally used as a transit point in illegal drug trafficking. During that period, the park fell into decay due to vandalism and lack of control. But in the early 1980s, the Committee for the Protection of Nature was created, which gradually restored both the park itself and the terraces. Since then, Bethesda Terrace has been a destination for millions of people and a playground for talented street performers.
Between 71st and 74th streets is Strawberry Fields - the area where the memory of the legendary member of The Beatles - John Lennon is honored. Near this place are the Dakota apartments, where the singer lived with his wife Yoko Ono. And here, near his house, he was killed.
In memory of the singer, in 1981 a member of the City Council named this part of the park - the most beloved by Lennon and Ono - Strawberry Fields, after the Beatles song "Strawberry Fields Forever". The grounds were landscaped with a generous donation of one million dollars from Yoko Ono.
In the center of Strawberry Fields is a black and white mosaic "Imagine" , named after one of Lennon's most popular songs.
On December 8, the day of John Lennon's death, thousands of fans of the great singer and composer come to this place to honor his memory.
Central Park in New York is definitely a place to visit!
Unforgettable impressions!
And have a good rest!
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