Archive for the 'Public Park' Category

The New York Central Park

November 30th, 2009 -- Posted in Public Park | Comments

This park is one of the most popular landmarks in the Big Apple and has found its way into the international mainstream culture as well. The Central Park finds a mention in numerous movies, books, and so on and so forth. Here is some information about one of the most popular parks in the whole world. The Central Park is 341 hectares in area and is located at the very hub of Manhattan in New York City. It is one of the most widely visited landmarks in the city and every year, this park witnesses an annual footfall of over twenty five million visitors.

The Central Park has a long history and was opened for the first time in the year of 1859 and the construction was finally completed in 1873. by 1963, the park had officially been given the title of a National Historic Landmark. The Central park was conceptualized and subsequently designed by one of the most famous landscape artists, Frederick Law Olmsted and also the architect Calvert Vaux. One of the most unique features of the Central Park is the fact that though most of the park looks as if it has been left to nature, almost the entire park has been conceptualized and landscaped.

The park has some amazing features for all the visitors who go there. There are many lakes and ponds which are again man made, though they look natural. Then there are many walking trails which are really long. Then are two ice skating rinks, and one of these is a swimming pool as well in the months of July and August. There is the Central Park Zoo, the Central Park Conservatory Garden, a wildlife sanctuary, a lot of forested land which is natural, a reservoir with a track for all the runners, and also the famous Delacorte Theater. This theater is known for hosting the popular “Shakespeare in the Park” festival which is generally held in the summer.

Central Park is very conveniently located because on the north, there is West 110th Street, while on the south there is the West 59th Street, on the west there is the Eight Avenue. There are many other attractions that the Central Park has to offer, other than the ones which we have already mentioned above. There is the Belvedere Castle which has its own nature center. Then there is the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre along with the famous and legendary Carousel as well. There are lots of playgrounds for children and many quiet spots for people to relax as well.

There is a lot of exotic wildlife in the park and it acts as a convenient location for so many migratory birds which comes in during the autumn and the spring seasons. Over 200 species of birds are seen and thus the Central Park is also a hub for many avid birdwatchers. There are some famous sculptures in the park as well, like the “Angel of the Waters”, at Bethesda Terrace by Emma Stebbins.

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A Public Park for The Neighborhood

May 1st, 2009 -- Posted in Public Park | Comments

The Portage Park in Chicago is one of the central meeting and leisure points for people in the community, to enjoy an evening stroll, a morning walk or a picnic out with the family. It happens to be one of the largest parks in Chicago and offers a wide array of recreational facilities which include six tennis courts and large playgrounds and paths for natural walks along the park. The park also consists of large soccer and baseball fields. A huge attraction is the area that houses the gymnasium and the cultural arts buildings. Senior citizens also enjoy here with fitness and aerobics classes to stay healthy.

The name of the area, The Portage Park Community Area is derived from the name of the Park itself, and not only this, the park also brought together the community that exists around it, by combining some far flung separate communities. The Park now is the center of all activities for the community, providing athletic and other team sports to be played on its open grounds and other cultural and club activities to be carried out in its special buildings.

Originally the Park had a dirt bottomed natural pond that then blended into a cement bottomed pool, the pond portion used to merge with the hill that existed on the Western side of the Park. In 1932 improvements began to be carried out in the Park. Additional plants were being planted to enhance the natural beauty of the place, fountains started to be constructed and Gateways were being put up. The Park authorities thus removed the original natural pool and replaced it with a kidney shaped pool made of concrete. Workers also renovated the long destructed Rock House that used to exist in the South end of the Park. This House also had its own Goldfish pond and pretty flower patches.

In 1959 further improvements were made and the Kidney Pool was replaced by an Olympic Sized Pool. In 1972, with these facilities available, Portage Park had hosted the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials here. There is also an interactive marine play area that has been specially built for children to enjoy. In the summers therefore, the park is ideal for cooling off, with the pool and a large deck for sunning.

The Park is actually older than all the other buildings that are now around it.

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