Tuesday, February 27, 2018

A little bit of this and that about Central Park


                                                                                                                 
Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York. The park’s designers had a 

vision . . . A visionary dream to create an oasis for city dwellers who otherwise might never experience the things many of us take for granted like grass, trees and the peacefulness of nature.

The park was established in 1857, then in 1858, after winning a design competition, landscape architect and writer Frederick Law Olmsted along with an English architect, Calvert Vaux were commissioned to improve the design of Central Park.

Most of the city of Manhattan was built using a grid system. Straight roads, streets, and avenues intersecting at ninety-degree angles. So, instead of straight walking paths, Central Park is comprised of curved walkways. Through the entire eight-hundred and forty-three acres, there is but one straight path. 


Here are a few fun facts about Central Park:



1. Central Park has its own police force. The Central Park Precinct employs both regular and part-time officers. In the early 1980’s, before the park had its own police unit, the crime rate was approximately 1,000 various crimes per year. In 2005, after the inception of the park’s force, crime dropped to about one-hundred crimes annually. In addition to the Central Park Precinct, New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol also patrols Central Park. An all-volunteer ambulance service provides free emergency medical service to patrons and operates a rapid-response bicycle patrol park.

2. The Central Park carousel is a major attraction. Supposedly, from 1873 to 1921 the carousel powered by a live mule or horse hidden beneath the ride. Apparently, the carousel operator would bang his cane on the floor indicating to the live animal beneath to either begin walking or to stop thus causing the ride to move. 
       3. Did you know if you get lost in the park just find one of the 1,600 lamp posts and you can find your location? It’s true. The lamp posts, or luminaires, have a series of four numbers on their sides which correlate with the location of the post. The first two digits tell you the closest street. If the post’s number is 8215—you’re near 82nd Street. The second two numbers will tell you if you’re on the east or west side. Even digits indicate the east side and odd, the west.

4. Have you ever considered fishing in the middle of Manhattan? 

Well, you can. Fishing is allowed in Central Park, and at the far north end of the park in the Harlem Meer is supposedly the best place to cast your reel. You might get a bite from carp, catfish, black crappie, bass, chain pickerel and pumpkinseed. There's a catch-and-release policy in place, so whatever you catch . . . has go back in the drink.


5. Central Park’s Sheep’s Lawn was just that—a sheep’s lawn. Today, locals and visitors alike flock to sheep’s lawn to relax on the green grass, read a good book while soaking up the sun’s rays, or maybe play a friendly game of catch. But from 1864 to 1934 this area was home to free grazing sheep. When not roaming the green grassy area, the sheep were kept in a bordering Victorian building which is now Tavern on the Green restaurant. 

The first time I saw Central Park. I was across the street at the American Museum of Natural History. It was a rainy, dreary day and still there were people roaming the paths. I read on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park the real estate value of Central Park was estimated by the property appraisal firm, Miller Samuel to be about $528.8 billion in December 2005. I have to wonder if the creators of Central Park ever imagined that their dream of an oasis in the city would be the success it is today.

Have you ever visited Central Park? Or would you like to? Please, take a moment to share your experiences or dreams with us in the comments below and thank you so much for stopping by Heroes, Heroines and History today.


Michele


*Above pictures curtesy of Wikimedia-Commons.


 

Multi award-winning author, Michele K. Morris’s love for historical fiction began when she first read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House book series. She grew up riding horses and spending her free time in the woods of mid-Michigan. Married to her high school sweetheart, they are living happily-ever-after with their six children, three in-loves, and eight grandchildren in Florida, the sunshine state. Michele loves to hear from readers on Facebook, Twitter, and here through the group blog, Heroes, Heroines, and History at HHHistory.com.

11 comments:

  1. Very interesting post! I grew up in NJ, so we often went into NYC. I visited Central Park several times, but didn't know the tidbits. As someone who gets lost easily, I appreciated the one about the numbers on the lamps.

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    1. Thank you, Linda! The lamp post fact was so interesting to me too. I appreciate you stopping by today. :)

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  2. Now that I've read your post, I'd love to go there. I didn't know they had their own police force, I have always thought of it as a very unsafe place. I guess that's because lots of books I have read over the years have some crime or another happening there!!! Great post!

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    1. Hi Connie, in the 1980's it was a very unsafe place. The crime rate was high, but a private group took over the care of the park and has been cleaning it up since. Honestly, I've never ventured away from the more populated areas, but one of theses days . . . I'm going to go looking for the lost highway of 1812 and at least one waterfall. :) Thank you for commenting!

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  3. I visited NYC as a sales person for McGraw-Hill, but because my days were filled with meetings, I never made it to Central Park. Night in Central Park by myself? Like Connie, I'd read too many murder mysteries. However, I did have high tea at the Plaza Hotel. Memorable!

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    1. Haha, I agree with you about not venturing into the park at night! I'm from the land of Mickey Mouse, sunshine and palm trees. So, unless I know exactly where I'm going, I don't wander around New York City at night much at all. :) Ooo, and high tea at the Plaza, how lovely! Thank you so much for stopping in today!

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  4. Thank you for sharing your very interesting post. I have never visited Central Park but I would love too.

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    1. Thank you, Melanie. The park is a strange sight amongst all the skyscrapers. I hope you get to visit someday.

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  5. I have not been to New York but I lived in St. Louis for twenty years so I visited Firest Park. It is very nuce and has lots of museums and the zoo! Thanks.

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  6. Nice tidbits about Central Park. I've never been to NY. I enjoy the rural attractions more than a major city attractions.

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  7. I thoroughly enjoyed your post, Michele. I've had the privilege of visting NYC several times in my childhood and young adult life. My grandfather worked as a superintendant for 75 Central Park West, where Carrol O'Connor, Barbara Streisand and other famous people lived for varying lengths of time. My brothers, who were ten and twelve years older than me respectively, worked as Doormen for a time there as well I have to tell you it was magical to be able to step outside my grandfather's lobby and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving DAy parade, or go for a short walk and see the Museum of Natural History, or walk through the park. Strawberry Fields is not far from there, nor is the Dakota building where John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived until he was tragically killed.

    In later years, my brother and his wife lived near the United Nations on 55th Street, which is on the East side and lay across the park from his workplace. He worked second shift and thought nothing of walking home through the park after dark. Perhaps my mother's prayers kept him safe all those years. ;-)

    The Central Park Zoo had to have been one of my most favorite places as a child, after the museum of Natural History. And seeing Tavern on the Green lit up at night still sparkles in my memory as one of the most enchanting sights I've ever seen.

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