Central Park

What's a Trippy?

It's a short visual trip to a place of architectural or design importance.

Where are we going?

Central Park in New York City -- the island of Manhattan, to be more precise.  It's significant to visit because it was the first landscaped public park in the United States, a project that started in 1853 when the New York legislature set aside 843 acres of land -- 6% of Manhattan -- to give residents a well-groomed and thoughtfully planned park experience similar to London and other cosmopolitan cities. It was originally designed to offer a great place for families to take walks and carriage rides. An 1857 contest by the Central Park Commission became the first-ever U.S. landscape design competition, and it was won by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The park opened in 1859 and has been a great success ever since.

What's to see?

 The park is a masterful mixture of beautiful trees, shrubs, and flower plantings, statues, ornate bridgework, formal mall settings and more natural paths, manmade lakes that replaced swampland, and an amazing variety of events, like boating, sports venues, concerts, art happenings, restaurants, and the famous Central Park Zoo.

Location?

The island of Manhattan -- New York, NY

Central Park Sampler

Plan for Bethesda Terrace and Fountain
Mall scene in Central Park

Much-photographed park bridge

The Boathouse rents out boats and has a fantastic restaurant

Secluded bridge near the south end of the park

Satellite view of the park

Autumn in New York

Watery havens with angel fountain and lake

Strawberry Fields mosaic, a tribute to John Lennon in the park

The park is definitely for the young . . . and the young at heart

Photo credits: Central Park NY, Paz's New York Minute, TravelBlog, Travel Advisor, London Dan, TMCnet, Worlds of Water, Dilloallaluna, Nazareth Housing