June 8th, 2007
Central Park is called Central Park because it is in the middle of Manhattan. It is also central, as in key, to many of the 8 million two-footed residents and their four-footed canine companions. Whether you live in the city or visit for work or pleasure, Central Park offers a delightful respite from the city’s heat, hard lines, schedules, and expense.
Central Park is free. Free to enjoy are gardens, lakes, fauna, and pop-up entertainment. Even a quick pass through the park will add joy to the day.
The Conservatory Garden at Fifth Avenue and 104th Street offers beautiful, structured & colorful open plantings and hidden shady allies in which to read a book or enjoy quiet conversation.
Delacorte Clock rings every half hour in song. Bronze animals spin around the clock, as children follow suit below. I’ve seen this a thousand times, and I still love it.
Harlem Meer at Fifth Avenue from 106th to 110th Streets offers a beautiful lake, decorated with heron, ducks, and the Canada geese the city had hoped to be rid of.
Loeb Boathouse mid-Park offers a café, restaurant, bike rental, boat rental, gondola ride, and clean bathrooms.
Sheep Meadow is an open field for lying about.
The Central Park Zoo is just the right size for little ones, two to six. With seal lions, polar bears, playful otters, nearby bathrooms and café, the zoo is a home away from home for stay-at-home moms and their toddlers, and toddlers and their nannies who stay at home with them.
The sparkle in the Park is added by the city’s residents who pass through on route to work or play, to walk their dogs, stroll with loved ones, or earn a few dollars by playing their instruments. These touches of magic you must discover yourself.
Filed under Enjoying New York City, Navigating New York, New York City, Urban Life | Comment (1)
