CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SUMMER GUIDE Summer is here! Enjoy the sunny weather by picnicking on a lush lawn, watching live music, seeing a movie, playing free games, or discovering a new area of the Park. Our Summer Guide has all you need to know about this season’s happenings in Central Park. The mission of the Central Park Conservancy is to restore, manage, and enhance Central Park in partnership with the public. The Central Park Conservancy raises 75% of the Park’s annual budget from private sources and is responsible for all of the essential work that keeps Central Park beautiful. IN THIS GUIDE Page 2 Summer Walks 4 Picnic Guide 5 Public Programs and Events 6 Youth Programs and Events 7 Games and Activities Member Programs 8 Central Park Map Gapstow Bridge and the Pond CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SUMMER GUIDE 2017 PAGE 2 FOUR WALKS TO TAKE THIS SUMMER IN CENTRAL PARK Take advantage of the warm weather and enjoy these self-guided walks through the Park! Each one features locations recently renovated by the Conservancy. Visit centralparknyc.org/selfguidedtours for our collection of self-guided walking tours, tree walks, and more. North End Mid-Park THE POOL TO THE NORTH WOODS THE LAKE BOAT LANDINGS Huddlestone Arch Wagner Cove Landing 1. The Pool: With its grassy banks, weeping willows, and rushing 1. Bow Bridge Landing 4. Western Shore Landing waterfall, the Pool is one of the most relaxing spots in the Park 2. Chambers Landing 5. Wagner Cove Landing and features many species of birds, fish, and amphibians. 3. Hernshead Landing 2. Glen Span Arch: Glen Span Arch is one of two rustic arches In the 1860s, six boat landings were constructed along the shoreline that form the boundaries of the Ravine, the stream valley of of the Lake. Designed to complement the surrounding scenery, the the North Woods. Glen Span stands over the stream, called the small structures served as scenic lookouts and docks for recreational Loch, at its south end, with Huddlestone Arch at its north end. boaters. A passenger boat made a circuit around the Lake Both stone structures are sunken into the Park’s landscape. transporting visitors between all six landings and Bethesda Terrace. 3. Huddlestone Arch: The landings were A marvel of engineering periodically reconstructed and construction, in the 19th century — though Huddlestone Arch is much of the original detailing considered by many to was lost over time — then be the most surprising removed throughout the 20th of Central Park’s arches. century due to deterioration. Built entirely of huge, The Loeb Boathouse uncut boulders, only replaced one of the boat gravity and pressure landings in 1953. Last year, keep them in place. the Conservancy rebuilt the Be sure to admire the five boat landings standing Ravine’s newly restored today. The new landings are paths, landscapes, and more faithful recreations rustic features. of the original 19th-century designs and represent rustic and Victorian styles. CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SUMMER GUIDE 2017 PAGE 3 FOUR WALKS TO TAKE THIS SUMMER IN CENTRAL PARK (CONTINUED) Mid-Park South End THE PINETUM TO THE RESERVOIR THE ARSENAL TO THE HALLETT Bridge No. 24 Olmsted Flower Bed 1. Arthur Ross Pinetum: One of the earliest features of the Park 1. The Arsenal: Built between 1847 and 1851, the Arsenal originally was a stretch of pines, spruces, and firs along West Drive. served as a weapons supply depot for New York State’s When those evergreens needed replacement by the end of the National Guard. Today, it’s home to the headquarters of 19th century, deciduous trees took their place. Philanthropist NYC Parks and the Central Park Zoo. The Arsenal Gallery on the Arthur Ross wanted to bring evergreens back to the Park, so he third floor features fine arts and photography exhibitions open planted this Pinetum in the 1970s. to the public. 2. Bridge No. 24: This bridge is one of the oldest examples of 2. Olmsted Flower Bed: The flowerbed at the southern end of the cast iron bridges in America. It was originally designed to allow Mall was created in 1972 to commemorate the 150th birthday of pedestrians to stroll through this area of the Park without having Frederick Law Olmsted, co-designer of Central Park. It features to encounter equestrian traffic on the bridle path below. beautiful year-round blooms such as pansies, phlox, and azaleas. 3. Jacqueline Kennedy 3. Hallett Nature Onassis Reservoir: Sanctuary: The Hallett Holding a billion gallons Nature Sanctuary is of water, the Reservoir the smallest of the is 40 feet deep and Park’s three woodland spans almost the entire landscapes (which also width of the Park. It’s include the Ramble surrounded by the and North Woods) and Stephanie and Fred features sweeping views Shuman Running Track, of the southern end one of the most popular of the Park. Featuring running destinations new rustic trails and in the world. The benches, the Hallett is Conservancy completed now open daily to the renovation of the track public for the first time in 2015. since the 1930s. CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SUMMER GUIDE 2017 PAGE 4 PLAN YOUR PERFECT CENTRAL PARK PICNIC What are the ingredients for a fantastic New York City afternoon? A picnic basket, a blanket, and Central Park, of course! The Park is home to lawns, benches, gazebos, and picnic tables across its 843 acres, providing a variety of great picnic spots. Use our chart below to find the perfect location to place your blanket and enjoy some time outside this summer. FAMILY—FRIENDLY START FESTIVE PICNIC PICNIC WITH FRIENDS What type of picnic would you like to have? QUIET OR ROMANTIC PICNIC What should your What’s your favorite picnic have? picnic activity? What’s your ideal scenery? LOTS OF PICNIC SPACE TABLES OPEN LAKE PEOPLE— MEADOW SHADED VIEWS WATCHING LANDSCAPE TURTLE— WILDLIFE AND WATCHING WATER ARTHUR ROSS PINETUM Surrounded by 17 different species of pine trees, this four-acre landscape has picnic tables and BASEBALL—WATCHING HARLEM MEER a cozy atmosphere. The Harlem Meer (“Meer” is Dutch CHERRY HILL for “lake”) is a Overlooking the Lake with views to thriving wildlife the Ramble, this slope offers a habitat and home contemplative space perfect for GREAT LAWN to fish, turtles, picnicking, reading, and sunbathing. and waterfowl. This 55-acre area contains eight ball GREAT HILL fields — six of them This hilltop meadow contains picnic within the Great EAST MEADOW tables and a lawn surrounded by trees. Lawn Oval. Take It’s one of the quieter and more up a spot on the This pastoral meadow isolated places to picnic in the Park. perimeter to catch contains a large, lush a game in the spring green lawn, and is or summer. conveniently located near the East 96th ARTHUR ROSS PINETUM TURTLE POND Street and Robert Bendheim playgrounds. The Pinetum Turtles love basking in contains picnic the sun on flat logs or SHEEP MEADOW tables, open lawns, rocks at Turtle Pond. This popular meadow, with and a playground Take up a spot just a stunning view of midtown’s that is popular for north of Turtle Pond skyscrapers, is great for kids and adults to observe them in people-watching and of all ages. their natural habitat. lounging with a large group. CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SUMMER GUIDE 2017 PAGE 5 PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY FILM FESTIVAL The Central Park Conservancy Film Festival is a beloved summer tradition that showcases great films in a great urban park. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy the magic of the movies under the stars. For the second year, we’re sharing this tradition with our neighbors at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. Visit centralparknyc.org/filmfest for more details and a movie lineup. The Festival’s Saturday evening movie selection will be geared toward families. Monday, August 21 – Wednesday, August 23 – Tuesday, August 22 FREE Saturday, August 26 FREE Gates open at 6:30 pm Gates open at 6:30 pm Movies start at dusk Movies start at dusk (approximately 8:00 pm) (approximately 8:00 pm) Marcus Garvey Park* Landscape between Sheep Meadow (Enter at Fifth Avenue and 124th Street) and 72nd Street Cross Drive *In Partnership with Historic Harlem Parks The Central Park Conservancy Film Festival is presented by With additional support provided by Join us for these free, outdoor concerts happening throughout the season — and don’t forget your dancing shoes! HARLEM MEER PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL GREAT JAZZ ON THE GREAT HILL This annual festival brings the best local talent in music and dance Bring a blanket, picnic food, and dancing shoes for the 10th rendition to Central Park! Enjoy jazz, Latin, world, and gospel music while of this fun event! Co-presented with Jazzmobile, Great Jazz on admiring the lakeside views. All ages are welcome. the Great Hill features live music and swing dancing in a beautiful Visit centralparknyc.org/hmpf for more details. setting. Visit centralparknyc.org/greatjazz for more details closer to the event. Sundays, June 18 – September 3 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Charles A. Dana Discovery Center Saturday, August 5 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm (Inside the Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues) Great Hill (Enter at West 106th Street) FREE FREE Harlem Meer Performance Festival is sponsored by CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SUMMER GUIDE 2017 PAGE 6 YOUTH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS CHESS LECTURE AND SIMUL SERIES YOUTH BASKETBALL CLINICS ROOTS Learn techniques from some of the best Young athletes can enhance their basketball The ROOTS (Restoration of the Outdoors names in chess, then put your new skills to skills through small group instruction and Organized by Teen Students) program the test against a grandmaster while they competitive games in this high-energy, gives high school students the opportunity challenge 30 participants — simultaneously! interactive clinic.