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The Central park is one of the most beautiful
parts of New York with its fabulous free spaces and setting
for fun. The conception of the Central park took place in
1853. The rich and famous of New York wanted to recreate the
kind of public grounds that London and Paris had in plenty.
They choose Fifth and Eighth avenues and 59th and 106th streets
and later extended it to 110th street to get it to its current
size of 843 acres.
The first landscape design contest was held in 1857 and the
Central Park Commission selected the "Greensward Plan,"
submitted by Frederick Law Olmsted, the park's superintendent
at the time, and Calvert Vaux, an English-born architect and
former partner of the popular landscape gardener, Andrew Jackson
Downing. The designers wished to recreate the romance and
lush green open spaced like in England.
This beautiful expanse of open greens in the center of New
York gives New Yorkers the breathing space they need. The
Central Park has numerous buildings, sculptures, statues,
fountains, memorials, bridges and theaters.
Nowadays, Central Park hosts many weekly or daily programs
including programs like Views from the past, Horse-Drawn Carriage
Rides, Cross Park Promenade- Walking Tour, Tai Chi for Adults,
Yoga for Adults and Sunday yoga in Central park.
The 'Views from the Past' gives a glimpse of the history of
Central Park and its unique landscapes. It is a lovely rendition
of how Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux were able to
make their dreams come true.
Enjoy the romance and lure of Central Park from a horse-drawn
carriage. On your next trip to New York, you can find some
carriages lined up along 59th Street between Fifth and Sixth
Avenues. The carriage rides are available throughout the year.
On a trip to New York's Central Park, don't miss the Cross
park Promenade from the east to the west end of the park.
Along the way, the Central Park treasures include its hidden
benches that tells time, miniature boats powered by the wind,
a magnificent sculpture celebrating fresh water, and a glorious
drinking fountain for the city's equine population. It's a
fabulous enjoyable walk of 1 hour from Fifth Avenue and East
72nd Street to the other end of the park.
Every Saturday, The Central Park is host to some martial action
with a training program of Tai Chi for adults. You can just
take a peek at it on 97th Street. There are other classes
of Yoga for adults on Saturday and Sunday.
Some of the famous memorials of Central park include The 107th
Regiment Civil War statue, Columbus Circle, The Maine and
Strawberry Fields.
The 107th Regiment Civil War statue is in memory of the 58
Americans who laid down their lives for their country during
the civil war in defending the American Union. Columbus Circle
is a 70-foot monument column at the entrance of the Park with
Christopher Columbus' statue on top and 3 ships (Nina, Pinta
and santa maria) depicted on the column. This was built in
memory of Columbus who discovered the New World.
At the gate of Central Park, The Maine is another monument
built in memory of the 260 men who died on an American battle
ship (the Maine) in 1898.
Strawberry Fields is a unique memorial funded Yoko Ono in
memory of her husband, John Lennon who was murdered in December
1980 in front of his home near Central Park. Numerous mourners
hung messages and wreaths in this section of the park where
he used to play with his son, Sean.
Some of the most famous New York hotels are located near Central
Park. The Ameritania Hotel, Arlington, Avalon, Belvedere and
Bentley Hotel are few of them.
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