History of Central Park
Central Park is not only a green oasis in the heart of Manhattan — it’s a national treasure with a rich and complex history.
📅 1857 — The Beginning
The park was officially established in 1857 after public demand for green space in the rapidly growing city.
🏞️ 1858 — The Greensward Plan
Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition with their visionary plan. It included winding paths, bridges, lakes, woodlands, and open meadows — all designed to look natural but fully manmade.
👷♂️ 1858–1876 — Massive Construction
The park was built by more than 20,000 workers, including Irish, German, and African American laborers.
They reshaped the land, planted over 270,000 trees and shrubs, and created scenic landscapes.
📉 20th Century — Decline and Revival
In the mid-1900s, the park suffered from neglect. In the 1980s, restoration efforts began, led by the non-profit Central Park Conservancy, which still maintains the park today.
🌟 Today
Central Park is visited by over 42 million people annually, serves as a backdrop for hundreds of films, and remains a beloved symbol of balance between city and nature.
