Central Park

Across the River Mersey from Liverpool is the unassuming town of Birkenhead. What has this got to do with Central Park? You may be thinking, well, quite a lot actually.
When Connecticut farmer, Frederick Law Olmsted, had his plan for Central Park accepted it was the world's first publicly funded park in Birkenhead that was his inspiration. I only mention it because most people are unaware of it.
Begun in 1858, Central Park was an immediate success. Taking 15 years to complete at a cost of $14 million it incorporated 36 bridges or arches, 11 overpasses, a lake and over half a million trees and shrubs.
Today the park is the green heart of Manhattan and offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The park caters for runners, sports fans, children, cyclists, dog walkers etc and in the winter time there's even a public ice rink available.
As parks go, it's very impressive and worth a visit if you are in New York.

Central Park was without a doubt my least memorable T-list experience. I visited way back in April 2011, not knowing anything about its history, and truly, nothing at all seemed special. I don't even have a single decent picture of it. It was just a park! The normal trees, rocks, lakes, pathways, whatever... 8 years later, I've realized that this was exactly why it's such a special place. It's like any other city park - because it was an influence on every other city park. Everything is normal - not because this was just another forest they put some paths in, but because the park was planned out to seem that way. It seems natural, but it's been touched and molded by man every step of the way. Today, it serves the exact same purpose it was so carefully built for, a retreat and place of relaxation for the urban population. The goal has been planned and executed perfectly, and that's why Central Park is so special.

Central Park is a massive park. Pick a New York based TV show and they will show an aerial shot for sure and undoubtedly any trip to NYC should include a visit whether it is for a picnic, playing ball, the adjacent Guggenheim (WHS!), jogging in the morning, playgrounds, cycling, the "castles", overpriced corn dogs, take a carriage ride, see mounted police, and according to Law & Order you can find bodies in the bushes *chung-chung*

In short, Central Park is an icon that defines Manhattan as much the Statue of Liberty, the skyscrapers and bridges.

Compared to the few other parks in the world that are considered world heritage, Kew Gardens and the Singapore Botanical Gardens come to mind, I would always prefer Central Park. Whether it is more "unique" it is hard to say. Surely I would agree it is special and nothing is similar enough, but I can't judge it from an objective view *chung-chung*

It is surprisingly hard to write a review of one's home area attraction. I've been to Central Park in New York City a few hundred times, in conservative estimation, likely setting foot at least once at or near all of its major features and points of interest. On a pure intellectual level, I continue to recognize it as a monumental achievement of purposeful civic planning and the blueprint for many other parks since. But a park that I've seen only once in some remote locale probably retains a stronger impression for me than the park I've seen and used for most of my adult life.

Central Park is huge, larger than some cities enshrined on the WH list. If you are touring New York City, you should definitely budget some time for exploring the park, especially on a brilliant sunny day. Hitting all of the highlights is hard to do even if you have a full day, but you can see a few in a couple of hours of leisurely strolling, which will give you plenty of appreciation for the scale and the diversity of the place. From Gapstow Bridge to the Mall to the Bethesda Fountain, then over the Bow Bridge to the Belvedere Castle to the Great Lawn will take you through the southern half of the park, with the added advantage of proximity to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the eastern edge or the Museum of Natural History on the western one at the end …

The lungs of NYC is perhaps one of the most visited and well known public areas in the world. It felt so familiar as I strolled through the seemingly endless urban park, probably because its been a popular filming location for many decades. I suppose the best time to visit is Spring through the Fall, but I had to make due with late Winter, Early Spring during my first visit in 2015. Luckily, the sun was out. Central Park is 843 acres and I quickly recognized my visit was going to be a work out! I walked from the South heading North. I enjoyed the arched bridges, many from the original design. The statues, fountains, ponds, and carrousel were all pleasant sites along the way. One of the highlights is surely the lakes, ponds, and massive reservoir. The later (looking South) provides stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum are conveniently located to make Central Park a day well spent, albeit a full one!

I have since visited two more times, Summer 2018 and Spring 2023. Each time I visit, I tend to search for different areas of the park and the hidden nooks that make Central Park so special. During my last visit, I made an effort to see the newly renovated 'Belvedere Castle' (a folly castle) built in 1867, which was pleasant and offered scenic views. Another highlight is the Bethesda Terrace, which is probably the most …