The Central Park, New York
February 12th, 2009 -- Posted in The Central Park | CommentsPerhaps the most visited park in the United States is the Central Park in New York, and not only that, it has been a National Historical Landmark since 1963. If you want to experience an environment of natural beauty in the middle of one of the most bustling and urban cities in the world this is the place to come to.
Even though most of the park looks natural, it is actually mostly landscaped and designed. It contains some very beautiful relaxation points near the lakes and ponds which look perfectly natural. Stretching over an enormous area, the park contains some very well maintained walking tracks and dog runs, along with two very popular ice skating rinks. The park also boasts of its very own Central Park Zoo and a conservatory garden. Lovers of nature can find themselves lost in the vast acres of natural woods and a well protected wildlife sanctuary. The park also hosts an annual theatre festival, called the “Shakespeare in the park”. This is held in their own outdoor amphitheatre. Various sports can also be played on the park’s grounds, either informal or formal sporting competitions, it is open to all. There are also some quiet zones in the park, where one can spend some alone – time in leisure. There are also some playgrounds where children with their guardians can spend a day out. Operas are also held along with annual open air concerts. Central Park also has some landscaped glaciated rocks which is a great attraction for climbers.
The park boasts of its natural habitat for a host of wildlife species. However, the park is most popular among bird watchers, as its ponds and woods is a major attraction for a wide variety of migrating birds, especially during the spring or the fall. Almost two hundred different kinds of birds can be spotted inside the park premises on any given day during such a season.
There are some interesting ways in which the entire park can be viewed. Carriages, which are a symbolic institution of the city, are frequently used by visitors to travel around the park. However, their use has recently come into a lot of scrutiny because of animal activists who claim of inhumane treatment of the horses. Besides this, the use of Pedi cabs is also a great way of viewing the whole park.
