New York City is such a wonderful place to visit. Our son and daughter in law live on the west side and on our recent visit we told them we wanted to just enjoy the area where they lived and keep it low key. It ended up being the perfect visit.
We were able to walk from our hotel to their apartment very easily and the bonus is that they live so close to Central Park. I am a huge fan of Central Park and one of my bucket list items was to just explore a bit. They indulged us and we spent Sunday afternoon just walking in the park. It was the perfect day, perfect weather and perfect company. The trifecta.
Central Park is a beautiful space in the heart of the city and boasts being the first landscaped public park in the United States. Unfortunately the development of the park displaced over 1600 poor residents when the city exercised the power of eminent domain to acquire the initial 700 acres of land.
The park did not magically appear either. A design contest was held with the idea that the final design would have a pastoral feel to it with rolling meadows and thoroughly planned out paths and trails. In 1857, the Central Park Commission held the country’s first landscape design contest and selected the “Greensward Plan,” submitted by Frederick Law Olmsted, the park’s superintendent at the time, and Calvert Vaux, an English-born architect and former partner of the popular landscape gardener, Andrew Jackson Downing.
Central Park was built with the labors of 20,000 plus laborers and was a massive undertaking. The landscape was drastically changed and the park is a beautiful example of what can happen when people work together to create a place of beauty. I discovered a lot of information at the website CentralPark.org including a wonderfully detailed history. If you ever plan to visit it is a hugely helpful resource.
A favorite tourist picture spot.
Of course there are also plenty of beautiful buildings in the city and I was drawn to photographing some of those as well.
There is always something going on and we caught a few numbers at a free concert as we were walking around.
Beauty is everywhere. Whether it is green space in the park or flowers or architecture – all you have to do is open your eyes.
If you have been to New York City what was your favorite thing? If you haven’t visited have I tempted you a bit with this post? Leave me a comment. All comments this month mean a 50 cent donation to our Comments for a Cause – UMCOR Hurricane Florence Relief.
