| Visitors to New York are often overwhelmed by the | | | | many migratory birds, as well as local East Coast bird |
| hustle and bustle of the big city, and face a multiplicity | | | | life. |
| of dilemmas as to where to maximise their time. | | | | The history of Central Park is also especially |
| However, regardless of whether you choose to spend | | | | interesting. In fact, the plans for the park reach as far |
| your visit to New York marvelling the sights atop the | | | | back as 1811. Between 1820 and 1850, the population of |
| Empire State Building or indulging in the glamour and | | | | New York City quadrupled, and people flocked to |
| romance of Broadway, you'll certainly need to find time | | | | open spaces in order to get away from the chaotic |
| to relax and enjoy New York's more calming sights. | | | | nature of city life. Andrew Jackson Downing, the |
| This is part of the reason that Central Park is so | | | | USA's first landscape architect, first began to |
| popular with both residents and visitors: its 843 acres | | | | popularise the idea of a park for New York City in |
| (or 3.41 km sq) offer space for solitude and landscape | | | | 1844, one that was similar to London's Hyde Park or |
| appreciation, a haven from the hectic atmosphere of | | | | the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. The State eventually |
| the city centre. | | | | appointed a Central Park Commission to oversee the |
| Tourists to New York might be surprised to find out | | | | park's development, and in 1857 held a landscape |
| that, while Central Park looks entirely natural, it's | | | | design contest in order to find the best design for the |
| actually almost completely landscaped - a testament | | | | scheme. The eventual winners, Olmstead and Vaux |
| to the architectural prowess of its designers, Frederick | | | | have since gone down in history as the designers of |
| Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. The park itself is | | | | one of the world's most famous parks. |
| home to several artificial lakes, various extensive | | | | If you're interested in enjoying a relaxing break in New |
| tracks for avid walkers to enjoy, a wildlife sanctuary | | | | York and absorbing as much of Central Park's |
| and numerous vast areas of grass which can be used | | | | atmosphere as possible, why not choose to stay in |
| for sporting pursuits. The park space is particularly | | | | one of the many luxury hotels in Manhattan? You'll be |
| popular after 7pm every evening, when automobile | | | | able to indulge in the sights and sounds of one of the |
| traffic is banned and the park is flooded with cyclists, | | | | most spectacular urban parks in America without ever |
| joggers and roller skaters. Furthermore, Central Park is | | | | having to leave the big city. |
| a haven for birdwatchers in New York, as it attracts | | | | |