Central Park, heart of the Big Apple…

A trip to New York isn’t complete without a morning 5k run through the heart of the Central Park. The comfortably crowded pedestrian trail takes you all around the lake, exploring the lush, spring-blooming trees and picturesque landscape. What began as a growing need for open, quiet space, the historical, man-made landmark that is Central Park has become one of the urban wonders of the world, in the heart of the great concrete landscape of New York City.

Once a swampy, muddy landscape, Evening Post editor William Cullen Bryant succeeded in pressing officials to set aside land for the park in 1858, before it was swallowed up by high-rises in a fast-developing city. Lacking the means for modern machinery, 500,000 cubic feet of topsoil was carted in on horse-drawn carriages due to the inadequate state of the soil. Soon after, a design competition was held by supporting British architect Calvert Vaux to settle on the structure of the landscape. After twenty more years, and a slew of endless political battles, and a demand for open, recreational space, an unpaid, informed board of directors oversaw the remaining decisions for the pastoral landscape. By the early 1960’s, Central Park was declared a national landmark, with the debut of the Public Theatre’s “Shakespeare in the Park” and the Metropolitan Opera. Since, it has gone from being a national landmark, a dustbowl of deterioration during a twenty year decline, to lush, green oasis, drawing 25 million people annually.

Central Park is a haven for runners and a hub of activity for tourists, with attractions both day and night for every kind of visitor. From pedicab rides, to open-air theatre productions, rock-climbing, and walking tours, there’s almost always a race, activity, or event going on. Join us in ours on July 11th, and experience the landscape that has become one of the most fascinating man-made parks in the world.