Photo Essay: Spring in Central Park
Spring is in the air as the natural world awakens from its winter slumber! After a long winter that was full of gloom (and far too much snow), trees are finally in bloom in New York City, painting the full spectrum of colors among these mean streets. And there is perhaps no better place to experience that in my fantastic back yard…Central Park!
One of the most famous urban parks in the world, Central Park is a wonderful sanctuary amidst this thriving metropolis. A place to wander the paths and escape the throngs of tourists that cling to the southern end. So take a walk with me, why don’t you, as I show you just how magical Spring in Central Park is!
We start at The Pond, one of the first things you encounter at the southeastern end of the park (5th Ave and 59th Street) and a perfect introduction for things to come!
Central Park is full of boulders-a-plenty, complete with trails that traverse them!
As springtime begins, the famous Cherry Blossoms begin to open…
Proceeding north, we come across The Mall, a grandiose walkway flanked by American Elm trees and bearing sculptures of significant writers and poets throughout history.
The Mall culminates at Bethesda Terrace, overlooking the fountain that shares its name and The Lake.
Walking down the stairs towards the waters edge, you come across the famous Bethesda Fountain. If anyone’s seen Angels in Ameria, this is the Angel that is referenced.
Walking along the banks of The Lake takes you to Strawberry Fields, the memorial to John Lennon that sits opposite the Dakota apartments where he lived and was murdered. It’s centerpiece is the “Imagine” mosaic on the sidewalk that is a place of pilgrimage for many of his fans.
Continuing north through the wooded Ramble reveals the Great Lawn, with its vast expanse for summertime movies or concerts. As we head east, it’s hard to miss the sheer beauty of the park.
Along the Upper East Side we encounter Cleopatra’s Needle, an ancient Egyptian obelisk that sits outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Continuing north past The Reservoir with its popular jogging track, we encounter the North Meadow, a more isolated region where few tourists dare come. The serenity (and scenery) is simply fantastic.
By now there are trees that are in full bloom, showing off their beautiful flowers for the world to see.
At the northeast corner of the park sits Harlem Meer, a pond that is popular with with the locals for relaxation or even fishing, though fishermen are required to release their catches back into the water. Even the ducks seem to having a swell time on this beautiful Spring afternoon!
And so we arrive at Central Park North, also known as 110th Street, located a full 2.5 miles (4.02 km) north of where the park began! As we re-enter civilization, it’s not hard to see that trees everywhere are in bloom!
So thanks for coming along with me on this walk through Central Park to check out springtime in action! If you’re curious as to the route I took, check out the map below! And do note that this route is by no means all-inclusive of the wonders that Central Park has to offer!
What’s your favorite spot in Central Park?
