Central Park landscaping: a masterpiece that surpasses the times

In the 1850s, a competition was held to design a large park in Manhattan, New York City . The project sought to meet the needs of the rapidly growing city by offering New Yorkers a country experience , a place where they could escape the stress of urban life. A total of 35 designs were submitted and on April 28, 1858, the commissioners awarded the prize to "Plan Number 33" - a design by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux . That same year, the first areas of the park were laid out. opened to the public and thus Central Park was born . Olmsted and Vaux designed Central Park to incorporate a variety of landscapes and experiences . The plan eschewed symmetry, opting instead for a more picturesque design that comprised sweeping lawns, woodlands, meandering streams, and wide lakes —all connected by a series of winding paths and a carriage ride. However, building the park was no easy task. It is estimated that more gunpowder was used to clear the area than was used at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, with around 140,000 cubic meters of soil. and rocks transported out of the park.

The southern section of 79th Street was completed in 1860, just a year before the outbreak of the American Civil War. The commissioners decided to continue work on the park and soon completed Bethesda Terrace – a site that remains one of the most iconic and well-known landmarks in the park. of the park . Another landmark architectural work in the park is Belvedere Castle , completed in 1872. Once again designed by Vaux and Mold, the miniature castle is located atop a massive rocky outcrop known as Vista Rock – the second highest natural point in the Central Park . Originally conceived as an open-air observation tower, the entire complex was designed as a place where one could enjoy the splendid view above the surrounding landscape . Over time, more features were added to the park, including baseball and soccer fields, a carousel, two skating rinks, a zoo, formal gardens, memorials, and venues for concerts and plays. In addition to providing a variety of recreational experiences, Central Park brings great ecological and environmental benefits to the city: its more than 18,000 trees refresh and clean the air and its vast planted area serves as a habitat for wildlife , including more than 200 species of birds. that cross the Atlantic. Source: Designboom