Central Park is the heart of New York City; it is a huge park with 843 acres, located in the Centre of Manhattan. The need for natural environment and beauty was increased due to urbanization; new ideas such as developing gardens, landscapes, zoos and parks were gaining popularity. Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed the park in1858they envisioned a place where people of all social backgrounds could enjoy the peace and calm; they felt the need for some peaceful, calm and beautiful place where the people can sit and relax, away from the urban environment which produced tension, they believed that natural surroundings had a subconscious effect on the minds of the people.
Vaux and Olmsted planned and designed Central Park; in the winter of 1858, the Parks first area was opened to the public. Wealthy people soon started socializing in the park concerts, ball games, skating, and the park was used as a playground for the children; soon, the park was crowded, by 1940’s the Central Park had more than 20 playgrounds, Vaux’s vision and goal was to create a place where the upper and lower classes could relax, this could only be achieved with proper maintenance, soon it started to decline due to lack of maintenance, pollution, bald patches in the grass, garbage disposal, dead trees, soon the people avoided coming as the park was full of gangs and rowdy people who spoiled and vandalized the calmness of the park, this state of the park looked like the result of a very wild party.
Their vision was declining; as the park was in a state of despair, this started to happen due to expanded uses, the decline in maintenance funds; the authorities formed a private fundraising body, soon the New Yorkers were involved in an attempt to maintain the upkeep of their beloved park, as it was the major site of recreation.
The Central Park zoo is situated just a few yards from 5th avenue and 64th street in Central Park. Since the 1860’s animals have been a great attraction for children, there are 130 species in the Zoo, which leads the visitors through tropic, temperate, and polar regions. Viewing fascinating animals, including giant polar bears and tiny leaf cutter ants, the zoo also has a steamy rain forest and icy Antarctic penguin habitat; this helps the people to Come close to the natural world, the wildlife theatre helps young and old to learn about The natural world and become involved in preserving and protection of the species. It is the oldest and newest zoo after vast renovations; today, it is visited by more than 20 million people.
The Gates, installed by Christo and Jeanne Claude, 7,503 metal gates (37 km) along the pathways were installed in Central Park in New York City, from each gate hung a flag-shaped cloth of saffron colour, There were mixed reactions from the people as some loved them and some hated them, as human nature is one is never satisfied, the gates were the constant talk of ridicule, and soon the 21 million dollars project was to come down and dismantled. The history of this park is fascinating, but as the saying goes, nothing can be done unless it is in accordance with its Fate, very often we do our best, we put in our utmost endeavours and still the desired effect is not obtained, and plans are all upset, here logic proves helpless.
Olmsted and Vaux worked hard, honestly and sincerely, yet the Gates project did not last long as it was not appreciated by the majority, and the majority wins The Park today is a symbol of naturalistic design loved by the people near and far; it is A wonderful place in such a wonderful city that lets its people get happiness from the Environment it has created in the Central Park, it is the effort of the city and private groups That maintains the park. Central Park is the heart of the city. New York without Central Park is unimaginable.