Central Park is an urban park in Manhattan, New York City, located between the Upper West and Upper East Sides. Stretching from 59th to 110th Street and between Fifth and Eighth Avenues, it occupies 843 acres (341 ha). The park is the most visited urban park in the United States, drawing approximately 42 million visitors annually. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park was the first landscaped park in the United States.
Central Park is known for its natural-looking landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and various attractions. Key features include the Ramble and Lake, Hallett Nature Sanctuary, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, Sheep Meadow, and Bethesda Terrace. Recreational activities range from carriage and bicycle tours to sports facilities, concerts, and events like Shakespeare in the Park. The park also offers seasonal experiences such as cherry blossoms in the spring and fall foliage.
Recent developments include the opening of the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, a $160 million project that replaced the Lasker Rink and Pool with a year-round recreational facility. The Davis Center features a pool that transforms into an ice rink in winter and includes community programs and green spaces. Additionally, there have been efforts to redesign Central Park's drives to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, including repaving and the addition of bike lanes.
