Lecture on Central Park by Michael Whitner

Overview

• Central Park: Famous city park in NYC
• Entirely designed, not natural (843 acres)

History

• Proposed in 1840s by poet William Cullen Bryant and landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing
• Design competition in 1850s won by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux

Key Structures and Features

The Dairy

• Located in the children’s district
• Provided fresh milk to children in late 1800s
• Connected to one of the park’s transverse roads

Transverse Roads

• Roads that cross through the park
• Olmstead and Vaux submerged them below the park level
• Created a more seamless natural experience

Survey Bolt

• Marks original street grid of Manhattan
• Only remaining bolt in the park
• Symbols of the dramatic transformation for the park’s construction

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain

• Central feature of the park
• Bethesda Fountain commemorates importance of fresh water
• Designed by Emma Stebbins
• Historical references: Angel of the Waters, Gospel of St John

Naturalistic Design

• Rejected formal gardens for meadows, woodlands, streams, and expansive views
• Construction involved moving 5 million cubic yards of soil and planting over 500,000 trees and shrubs

Navigational Tip

• Lamp posts coded with numbers to help locate within the park. Even numbers = East, odd numbers = West;the first two digits = nearest cross street.

The Lake

• 4-ft deep, man-made
• Includes six other bodies of water like Harlem Meer, The Loch, The Reservoir
• Inspired by Hudson River School paintings
• Bow Bridge: Second oldest cast iron bridge in USA

Layers of the Park

• Four vertical layers: Transverse roads, drives (horses/carriages), bridal paths (horseback riding), and footpaths
• Bridges and tunnels to separate traffic types

Cultural and Social Impact

• Initially served different classes differently (horse carriages for wealthy)
• Now used interchangeably by all

Belvedere Castle

• Located on Vista Rock
• Originally intended as two castles but only one was built
• High vantage point; serves as a weather station
• Built with Manhattan Schist; appears to grow out of the rock

Great Lawn

• Formerly a reservoir, filled in 1931
• Hosts concerts, sports fields, and community activities

The Ramble

• Man-made but appears natural
• Embodies philosophy of naturalistic design

Conclusion

• Central Park is a treasure trove of history, architecture, and innovative landscape design
• A potential for further discussion and deeper exploration into other features of the park.