| New York City's Central Park is a vibrant, colorful | | | | national historic landmark. Unfortunately, due to |
| attraction for tourists and locals alike. The park | | | | budget cuts in the 1970s, the park suffered another |
| occupies over 840 acres in Manhattan and receives | | | | rapid decline. It was restored again in the 1980s and |
| over 25 million visitors annually. It is bordered to the | | | | early 1990s, and remains a lively entertainment mecca |
| north by West 110th Street, to the west by Central | | | | today. Central Park's place in pop culture is secure. |
| Park West, to the south by West 59th Street, and | | | | Legendary folk singers Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel |
| to the east by the famous 5th Avenue. Though it | | | | played a reunion concert at Central Park, and |
| appears natural, Central Park, designed by Frederick | | | | subsequently released a recording of it that went on |
| Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, is entirely | | | | to be one of their best-selling albums. In recent |
| landscaped with artificial lakes, a zoo, playgrounds, | | | | years, the Park has hosted a variety of music |
| walking trails, and ice skating rinks. In the | | | | festivals, including the extremely popular Dave |
| mid-nineteenth century, New York City was growing | | | | Matthews Band. It was featured in the James Bond |
| at an unprecedented rate. Public open spaces, aside | | | | film Live and Let Die, as well as Madagascar. J.D. |
| from cemeteries, were few and far between. Poet | | | | Salinger's coming-of-age novel is partially set in Central |
| William Cullen Bryant, among others, began to voice a | | | | Park, while Edward Albee's drama The Zoo Story is |
| need for a larger, sanctioned public park. In 1953, | | | | completely set in Central Park; there is even a |
| New York Legislature designated over 700 acres of | | | | playground named after Diana Ross. Perhaps the |
| land to be used for a park, for a cost of about 5 | | | | most culturally significant pop culture aspect of |
| million dollars. A design contest was held, and | | | | Central Park is Strawberry Fields-the memorial for |
| Olmstead and Vaux's "Greensward Plan" was chosen. | | | | former Beatle and visionary John Lennon. The park |
| However, after the park's construction, public interest | | | | offers a wide variety of events for all ages. Tavern |
| waivered and the park declined quickly after it was | | | | on the Green is a world-famous restaurant located |
| built; the political powers in New York City at the | | | | on the west side of Central Park. The Central Park |
| time were not interested in maintaining a 700 acre | | | | Zoo opened in 1981 and remains one of the most |
| public facility. In 1934, mayor Fiorello LaGuardia | | | | popular attractions. The obelisk, or Cleopatra's needle, |
| appointed Robert Morris to restore and revitalize | | | | is the oldest public monument in North America. |
| Central park. The park underwent major construction | | | | Finally, the Central Park carousel located at mid-park |
| and redesigning; athletic fields were constructed and | | | | is a quaint family attraction. The original park carousel |
| the walking trails were adjusted for automobiles. In | | | | opened in 1871; the current carousel was built in 1951 |
| the 1960s, the park thrived as a symbol for | | | | and is one of the country's largest merry-go-rounds. |
| counter-culture events and urban revival. Many rock | | | | Johnny Moon recommends making hotel reservations |
| concerts, political events, and Shakespearean plays | | | | near Central Park. |
| took place in Central Park. In 1963, it was declared a | | | | |