Excerpt
Chapter 1: Welcome to Central Park!
New York City is known for its towering skyscrapers, busy streets, and bright lights. Millions of people live and work there, and even more visit every year. But right in the middle of all the noise, buildings, and crowds, there’s a place that feels completely different. Instead of honking taxis and packed sidewalks, there are winding paths, wide open fields, and quiet corners filled with trees and birds. This is Central Park—one of the most famous parks in the world.
It stretches across a huge part of Manhattan, the island that makes up the heart of New York City. If you look at a map of the city, it’s easy to spot. The park is a giant rectangle of green surrounded by blocks of streets and buildings. It’s 843 acres, which means it’s bigger than 600 football fields put together. That’s a lot of space for a park, especially in a city where land is so valuable that apartment buildings are stacked high into the sky.
Even though it looks like a natural forest in some places, Central Park didn’t just appear on its own. Every tree, pond, bridge, and pathway was carefully planned and built. It’s a park designed to feel like the countryside, even though it’s surrounded by one of the busiest cities in the world.
A Park in the Middle of the City
New York City wasn’t always this crowded. In the early 1800s, it was much smaller, and people were starting to realize they needed a place to escape from the noise and buildings. At the time, the city was growing quickly, and open land was disappearing fast. People wanted a big park where they could walk, relax, and enjoy nature. Other major cities had large parks, and New York didn’t want to be left out.
The city leaders decided to set aside a huge section of land for a park. But there was a problem—the land wasn’t empty. There were farms, homes, and even an entire village called Seneca Village, where a community of mostly Black residents had lived for years. The government forced them to leave so the park could be built. This is an important part of Central Park’s history that isn’t always talked about, but it’s something people are learning more about today.
Once the land was cleared, the real work began. The ground had to be shaped, lakes had to be dug, and trees had to be planted. Huge amounts of rock and dirt were moved to create the rolling hills and open meadows. Even though it looks natural, almost everything in the park was built by people. It took years of planning and hard work to turn this space into the park that millions of people now visit.
A Place for Everyone
Central Park isn’t just for people who live in New York—it’s for everyone. Tourists from all over the world come to walk its paths, take photos, and visit its famous spots. People use it for all kinds of activities: running, biking, rollerblading, and even horseback riding. There are playgrounds for kids, sports fields, picnic areas, and even a zoo. Some people come just to sit on a bench and watch the birds or listen to the sounds of nature.
One of the great things about Central Park is that it’s free. Anyone can walk in and explore, whether they want to stay for a few minutes or the whole day. In a city where everything seems to cost money, Central Park is a place where people can enjoy themselves without spending a dime.
Even though it’s in the middle of a big city, there are places in the park where it’s easy to forget about the outside world. There are hidden paths that twist through thick trees, quiet gardens where people read or doze in the sun, and peaceful spots where the only sounds are birds chirping and leaves rustling in the wind. At the same time, there are lively areas filled with street performers, musicians, and food vendors selling warm pretzels and ice cream.
A Park for All Seasons
No matter what time of year it is, something is always happening in Central Park. In the spring, the trees bloom with pink and white flowers, and the grass turns bright green again after the cold winter. People spread out blankets and have picnics on the Great Lawn. Joggers and cyclists fill the paths, and kids run through playgrounds that have been empty during the colder months.
In the summer, the park is packed with visitors. People row boats on the lake, play baseball in the fields, and line up to get ice cream from carts. Free concerts and theater performances are held on warm evenings, and the days seem to last forever.
When fall arrives, the park transforms into a sea of red, orange, and yellow leaves. The air is crisp, and the paths are covered in crunchy leaves. It’s the perfect time for long walks and hot chocolate from one of the park’s cafés.
Winter turns Central Park into a completely different world. Snow covers the trees and blankets the fields. People go sledding down the hills, and ice skaters glide across the rink at Wollman Rink. Even on the coldest days, the park stays busy with people bundled up in scarves and coats, enjoying the fresh air.
New York City is known for its towering skyscrapers, busy streets, and bright lights. Millions of people live and work there, and even more visit every year. But right in the middle of all the noise, buildings, and crowds, there’s a place that feels completely different. Instead of honking taxis and packed sidewalks, there are winding paths, wide open fields, and quiet corners filled with trees and birds. This is Central Park—one of the most famous parks in the world.
It stretches across a huge part of Manhattan, the island that makes up the heart of New York City. If you look at a map of the city, it’s easy to spot. The park is a giant rectangle of green surrounded by blocks of streets and buildings. It’s 843 acres, which means it’s bigger than 600 football fields put together. That’s a lot of space for a park, especially in a city where land is so valuable that apartment buildings are stacked high into the sky.
Even though it looks like a natural forest in some places, Central Park didn’t just appear on its own. Every tree, pond, bridge, and pathway was carefully planned and built. It’s a park designed to feel like the countryside, even though it’s surrounded by one of the busiest cities in the world.
A Park in the Middle of the City
New York City wasn’t always this crowded. In the early 1800s, it was much smaller, and people were starting to realize they needed a place to escape from the noise and buildings. At the time, the city was growing quickly, and open land was disappearing fast. People wanted a big park where they could walk, relax, and enjoy nature. Other major cities had large parks, and New York didn’t want to be left out.
The city leaders decided to set aside a huge section of land for a park. But there was a problem—the land wasn’t empty. There were farms, homes, and even an entire village called Seneca Village, where a community of mostly Black residents had lived for years. The government forced them to leave so the park could be built. This is an important part of Central Park’s history that isn’t always talked about, but it’s something people are learning more about today.
Once the land was cleared, the real work began. The ground had to be shaped, lakes had to be dug, and trees had to be planted. Huge amounts of rock and dirt were moved to create the rolling hills and open meadows. Even though it looks natural, almost everything in the park was built by people. It took years of planning and hard work to turn this space into the park that millions of people now visit.
A Place for Everyone
Central Park isn’t just for people who live in New York—it’s for everyone. Tourists from all over the world come to walk its paths, take photos, and visit its famous spots. People use it for all kinds of activities: running, biking, rollerblading, and even horseback riding. There are playgrounds for kids, sports fields, picnic areas, and even a zoo. Some people come just to sit on a bench and watch the birds or listen to the sounds of nature.
One of the great things about Central Park is that it’s free. Anyone can walk in and explore, whether they want to stay for a few minutes or the whole day. In a city where everything seems to cost money, Central Park is a place where people can enjoy themselves without spending a dime.
Even though it’s in the middle of a big city, there are places in the park where it’s easy to forget about the outside world. There are hidden paths that twist through thick trees, quiet gardens where people read or doze in the sun, and peaceful spots where the only sounds are birds chirping and leaves rustling in the wind. At the same time, there are lively areas filled with street performers, musicians, and food vendors selling warm pretzels and ice cream.
A Park for All Seasons
No matter what time of year it is, something is always happening in Central Park. In the spring, the trees bloom with pink and white flowers, and the grass turns bright green again after the cold winter. People spread out blankets and have picnics on the Great Lawn. Joggers and cyclists fill the paths, and kids run through playgrounds that have been empty during the colder months.
In the summer, the park is packed with visitors. People row boats on the lake, play baseball in the fields, and line up to get ice cream from carts. Free concerts and theater performances are held on warm evenings, and the days seem to last forever.
When fall arrives, the park transforms into a sea of red, orange, and yellow leaves. The air is crisp, and the paths are covered in crunchy leaves. It’s the perfect time for long walks and hot chocolate from one of the park’s cafés.
Winter turns Central Park into a completely different world. Snow covers the trees and blankets the fields. People go sledding down the hills, and ice skaters glide across the rink at Wollman Rink. Even on the coldest days, the park stays busy with people bundled up in scarves and coats, enjoying the fresh air.