Central Park Manhattan
Central Park is the largest park in Manhattan an area of 840 acres it was one of the first American parks to be developed using landscape architecture techniques. Many people think the parks landscape is mostly natural with some development occurring within it. Every acre of the park was carefully designed and built within the whole (a larger composition). Its designers created a work of art through the profession “landscape architecture” which was founded by the co-designers of Central Park Federick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.
Pastoral landscape
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Picturesque Landscape
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Formal Landscape
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- Olmsted and Vaux’s vision called “The Greensward Plan” was the winning park design for a contest held in 1857 and shortly afterwards construction began.
- The Geensward Plan was developed from three types of landscapes:
- A Pastoral landscape should bring to mind the idyllic shepherd’s life of herding sheep around rolling lush meadows and serene lakes setting the scene for peace and harmony- getting away from the misery of crowed city life. These open expansive spaces are for quiet reflection, strolling walks and admiration of the surrounding scenery.
- Picturesque Landscapes are more complex, irregular and more obscure to lend a mystery to what comes next just around the bend in the trail. These landscapes are meant to be explored as they ramble through unpredictable (not impenetrable) terrain.
- Formal Landscapes are public gathering locations like plazas and promenades. Grand Army Plaza, Bethesda Terrace and the Conservatory Garden.
- Most importantly, visitors will be able to meander, explore and join other people at gathering sites for viewing gardens or spectators of some action in display.
- Central Park is located centrally between the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of Manhattan.