Destination Information

As the oldest landscaped public space in the country and one of New York’s most celebrated attractions, Central Park has a rich history.  These 843 acres are located in the heart of the city, between 59th Street on the South side and 110th Street to the North, and from 5th Avenue on the East Side to Central Park West (8th Avenue) on the West Side.  In the mid 1800s, prominent New Yorkers knew that if New York was to be a great city, it needed a great public space, and so the city began acquiring land.  The park opened in the winter of 1859 and New Yorkers have been ice skating and showing off their wheels (once carriages, now roller blades) ever since.  Today, Central Park boasts two skating rinks, a public pool, a zoo and wildlife center, numerous ball fields and even a weather station in its historic Belvedere castle.  The park is a gathering spot for picnics and concerts, and even hosted a visit from the Pope in 1995.  Central Park is a beloved stretch of green, providing relief from the concrete canyons, and offers recreation, people watching, exhibits and events befitting the greatest city in the world.