Central Park, New York

Central Park is the first large public park in the United States, the dream of New Yorkers and inspired by the beautiful parks of Europe. Each year, it is visited by 20 million people.

Located in Manhattan on an area of 341 acres, this scenic, attractive and wild park is a favorite place not only for New Yorkers but also for tourists.

Central Park is the work of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and architectural designer Calvert Vokes. Construction of the park began in 1858 and 20 thousand workers toiled for 20 years to create this jewel of New York. During this time, 2m cubic metres of earth were removed and the protruding rocks were lifted into the air to create greater scenic beauty. 4-5 million trees and some 800 species of other plants were planted, the wetlands were drained, a reservoir named after Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was dug and a 2.6km-long path was laid. This transformed Central Park into a beautiful green space amongst some of the most expensive property in the world. It was declared a national landmark in 1963.

Many of the entrances to the park have interesting names: the Inventors' Entrance, the Sailors' Entrance, the Engineers' Entrance, the Artists' Entrance, the Warriors' Entrance, etc. Whichever entrance the visitor enters, extraordinary experiences await. The Central Park Zoo has about 130 animal species that do not live in cages but in their natural habitat. For children, there is the Tisch Children's Zoo. The impressive 1870s Mandrat a building, designed by Calvert Vokes, is now the Park's Information Centre.

In addition to walking, you can explore Central Park by carriage or individually on horseback along a 10-mile trail. After the Zoo,the Carousel is one of the most visited attractions in the park. The 1959 bronze sculpture group "Alice in Wonderland" by José de Creeft is an attractive place for children to climb and have fun. And the statue of Hans Christian Andersen from 1956 seems to invite you to sit with him so he can tell you another fairy tale. The Central Promenade offers a charming view of the Sheep Meadow Lawn, where many people can be seen. The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic give concerts here. The sculptures of Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott are placed on the Central Promenade. And the first statue to take its place in Central Park is of the German playwright Friedrich Schiller.

The Bethesda fountain with the sculpture "Angel of the Waters" is New York's most beautiful fountain.

The magnificent fountain was designed by Emma Stebbins in 1868 and she was the first woman to receive such a commission in New York. Located in the center of a huge terrace , the fountain impresses with the central figure of an angel. At the foot of the terrace is the 72-acre serpentine-shaped reservoir known as "The Pond". A boat ride around the lake helps to explore other attractions of Central Park. Model remote-controlled ships float in the lake and are a great attraction for visitors. The pleasant outdoor café offers a cup of coffee for a short break. The retro wrought-iron bridge over the lake leads to Rumble, a mountainous area with a tangle of trails on 150 acres that is a birdwatcher's paradise.

The creators of Central Park have also set aside a special place for the beloved singer of generations young and old-John Lennon, who was murdered in 1980. With funds from his widow, Yoko Ona, a lovely teardrop-shaped garden has been created, named after Lennon's song Strowberry Fields Forever. On the mosaic of the central path in this extraordinary garden, which was a gift from Naples, is inscribed the word 'Imagine' from another John Lennon song.

Central Park's summer theatre stage offers free shows and concerts. For children, the Swiddish Cottage Children's Puppet Theatre, offers engaging stories with their favorite characters. Nearby the Puppet Theatre is the Shakespeare Garden, established in 1916 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the genius poet's death. Many of the plants mentioned in his works can be found here.

The picturesque Belvedere Castle in Central Park, which houses the Henry Luce Natural History Observatory, sits on a jutting rock on Turtle Pond. Behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest landmark in the park-Cleopatra's Needle. This granite obelisk from 1475 BC was presented in 1885 from Egypt to the United States.

The 44-acre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, which has special jogging paths around it, is frequented by those wishing to exercise. For winter recreation enthusiasts, Central Park offers two ice rinks-Lasker Ring and Walman-which attract 4 thousand fans a day.

Central Park is a vast oasis in the heart of New York City and visiting it is a great experience.