Park Review
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New York City, New York
Place: Central Park Carousel (http://www.centralpark.org) I took the A train up to Columbus Circle on a warm, beautiful Friday. People were out in droves as I entered Central Park. I bought a sausage and soda and sat down to enjoy man�s interpretation of nature, which Calvert Vaux & Frederick Law Olmstead had laid out in the 1850�s. Brushing off the crumbs, I headed over to the reason for my mid-morning journey, the Central Park carousel. Although it has been featured in many movies and photos (including a personal favorite, the Spanish Prisoner), I had never taken the opportunity to stop by and see the venerable child�s soul of New York City. I heard the Gebruder organ sing as I approached. The building is a bit utilitarian, but still classic in its lines. After snapping pictures of the outside, I paid and hopped on an outside jumper. The carousel itself is, according to �Painted Ponies,� from 1908 (it ran for several years at Coney) but was moved to the park after an early 1950�s fire destroyed the previous carousel. This is a Stein & Goldstein carousel that features some beautiful horses, which appear larger-than-average. The carousel is beautiful and should be visited when in the area. The inner drum has some nice clown depictions on it, but my favorite part was the seal balancing a ball on his nose. It feels as much a part of New York as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. While it does not facilitate commerce, the carousel speaks as much about the American dream as the statue in the harbor.
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