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Second Stop: Central Park
Cross through the Circle, past the fountains, to the southwest corner of Central Park. As you walk into the park, cross the street and walk towards the the swingsets you'll see to your left -- this is Heckscher Playground, the largest playground in the park. Philanthropist August Heckscher, Sr., built the original complex in 1926, and The Central Park Conservancy completely renovated it in 2006.
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Map of Walk |
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Keep your eye out for picnic spots anywhere in here.... |
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Fun Facts: Central Park
Central Park runs from 59th to 110th Street; 5th and 8th Avenues border it to the east and west; about 0.5 mile wide, and a little over 2.5 miles long, it covers 843 acres smack dab in the middle of the borough of Manhattan. Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed it; in 1853 the New York Legislature designated the original 700 acres, and it officially opened to the public in 1873.
Nod to Chris K.
A statue of Polish King Jagiello stands majestically at the east side of the Turtle Pond, where you can sometimes see Polish folk dancing on the weekends. |
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Directly behind the playground, and considered part of Heckscher recreational area, you'll see the ballfields where you can take a few minutes to watch some local teams play ball, with horse and buggy rides passing in the background! |
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Head back down toward the south end of the park, slightly east, you'll hit Wollman Rink -- converted into Victorian Gardens for the summer, a cute miniature amusement park for kids. |
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Up the hill from Wollman Rink sits the Dairy, which actually provided fresh milk to children when it first opened in the 1870s. You can buy souvenirs in this charming building (great Central Park logo T- and sweatshirts), postcards, books, toys, mugs; find a map of the park; ask for chess pieces to use at the Chess and Checkers House just west of the Dairy. Proceeds for anything you buy go to the Park Conservancy, a privately run organization which helps to upkeep this fantastic park, so it's a great and worthy place to do your tourist shopping.
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Now head slightly northeast, toward the eastern edge of the park. You'll come to a path that runs north/south. Go south to get to Delacorte Music Clock that leads to the Central Park Zoo. On the hour and half hour, nursery rhyme music plays as the bronze animals dance. Go to this gem of a zoo! Walk through the multi-level bird house, see the seals, polar bears, penguins, monkeys. Sit on a bench and enjoy the lovely landscaping. |
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More Central Park; FAO Schwarz |
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Back to Columbus Circle |
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Back to Walking Tours Index Page |
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Find this site useful? Want to help out a fledgling writer? Consider buying my book! Great travel downtime reading! The Eilithia Project |
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...and since one book is never enough, consider this gripping romantic read from Robert Segarra, Still Waiting for the Sun |
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