How to make the most of one of New York’s greatest features

How much time do you need to explore Central Park? Well, how long have you got?

The first rule is don’t be in a hurry. Manhattan’s magnificent green heart, home to 18,000 trees and approximately six per cent of the borough’s land mass, stretches 51 city blocks from north to south.

Central Park – a haven for New Yorkers. Credit: iStock

It’s huge, a city within a city, and it takes some time to look around. Fifteen minutes won’t do it, an hour barely scratches the surface, an entire day isn’t out of the question if the weather is nice and sunny.

As important a landmark as Times Square or the Empire State Building, one of the world’s greatest urban parks might never have existed. A law was passed in 1853, setting aside 313 hectares of prime land for recreation, an antidote to crowded city conditions. Without that law, the land could so easily have become lined with high-rise apartments over time as the population grew and the concrete jungle expanded north.

As you enter the park from Columbus Circle, or up near Harlem Meer, or perhaps on the Upper East Side near the Met, stop and give a nod of thanks to the foresight of those who made sure Manhattan had a massive backyard, a zoo, an outdoor gym, al fresco concert spaces and more.

Credit: Jamie Brown

On the first warm day of spring, head to the Great Lawn with a picnic blanket to claim some space in the sunshine. You’ll be surrounded by thousands of New Yorkers celebrating the end of another long winter and the beginning of short-sleeve weather.

Later in April, the stunning pink cherry blossoms along the west side of the Jackie O Reservoir will bloom. Marvel at their exuberance and beauty, but be quick. Peak bloom lasts but a few days. Central Park Conservancy’s online Cherry Blossom Tracker gives daily updates on the status of the buds.

In the sticky heat of summer, cool off in Lasker Pool, free to enter. Don’t let the draconian rules – no hats, no coloured T-shirts, bring your own lock, don’t bring your own food, drinks or newspapers – deter you from a refreshing dip in the Olympic-sized pool.

Stick around until the sun goes down to catch a free live music performance at SummerStage or be entertained by the Bard’s witticisms at Shakespeare in the Park.

In any season, perch on one of Central Park’s 10,000 benches and simply watch the world go by. Between the horse-drawn carriages, cyclists, rollerbladers and runners training for the marathon, it’s always a spectacle.

If the park seems familiar, even on a first visit, it’s because you’ve seen it as the backdrop of countless movies and TV shows. Hang around long enough and you’ll spot a celebrity filming on location. Act cool, don’t make a fuss. This is New York City, after all, not LA.

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