Central Park - The Good, The Bad

Central Park

Kunstler’s back and forth banter about the creation of unnatural landscapes such as carefully designed parks in urban and suburban “communities” was quite humorous.  His commentary on Central Park in particular caught my attention.  The design of Central Park and the functional/recreational purposes it serves Manhattan residents has always interested me.  I find the park to have an air of mystery around it and an appearance of a misplaced fantasyland. 

When I first moved to New York City three years ago, Central Park stood out like a soar thumb right away.  I found that its appearance did not match the style and facades of the other structures.  Every time I enter Central Park, I feel as if I am crossing a threshold into a location outside Manhattan, because it is unlike anything else around.  For many residents, myself included, Central Park serves as an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of the city.  The suggestion of green space becomes an almost refuge for “tired eyes and nerves.”  Roaming through the park, removed from commercialized streets filled with heavy pedestrian and automobile traffic permits residents to peacefully relax and spend some time with nature.

Central Park 1

However, you have to wonder far into the park if you want to escape the crowds of tourists and street vendors that horde around the entrances.  They tend to like to overpower the entranceways, which is both frustrating and annoying when all you want to do is get away from everything.  Nevertheless, once you start to wonder around and take some of the side paths further into the park, you can usually find some peace.  While strolling through the heart of the park, you will most likely pass other people, but it will not be to overbearing.  When exploring the park aimlessly you can not help but feel like you left Manhattan because the sudden site of trees and grass throws you off because you are not accustomed to seeing it.  It reminds NYC lover’s how refreshing nature can be when they immerse themselves in it.

Although the park is large and it is easy to disconnect from society by getting completely lost in it for a bit, the park does serve as a city square/meeting spot where neighbors can meet up and chat.  This is especially apparent when the weather is warm outside.  During the warm weather months, the park host as assortment of events for the general public. Additionally, it is not uncommon to find people having a picnic or playing a game of frisbee in the parks open green spaces. 

Ultimately, Central Park has many good and bad aspects about it.  There are times when its mere size prevents it from acting like a true city square for its residents.  People enter the park and wonder around by themselves until they are tired of being lost or become bored so they leave.  Yet, there are also times when the park brings neighbors together and gives Manhattan residents a place to enjoy nature in a relaxing environment.  Although the park in a preplanned and carefully designed fake natural landscape, it still manages to offer people the escape they sometimes need.  For the good and the bad, Central Park is what it is, and no matters what others may think, I always enjoy the time I spend there.