Central Park, recognized as one of New York’s main attractions, has been the stage for recreational activities, social gatherings, and peaceful protests for many decades. Located right in the heart of Manhattan, it’s the perfect place for visitors to take a break from the busy streets of New York. Massive in size and peaceful in nature, the park is quite literally a “breath of fresh air” between skyscrapers. While the space is a given for both New Yorkers and tourists alike, it wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the work of Frederick Olmsted. On the other hand, a series of both social and health-related circumstances, all relevant today, made the park possible. While nowadays the park provides relaxation and a space for everyone alike, it wasn’t always so. Only by discussing the origins and history of the park will be able to fully understand the park’s impact on design, health and above all, society.
Central Park, built in 1858, was a direct response to the ever-growing industrialization and air pollution that came with it. In terms of health, the continuous exposure to fumes was associated with sickness and negativity, following a medicinal approach that not only ensured proper sanitation but also mental wellbeing. These efforts were led by the U.S. Sanitary Commission, which alongside Fredrick Olmsted, deemed the creation of an openly green space as a fitting solution to the city’s health crisis and, more importantly, as a means to a functioning society.
However, this same sanitary movement, led by New York’s more liberal physicians, preached the “removal of filth” as a justification for displacing black families and minorities. The demolition of the black community of Seneca Village (the grounds over which the park stands today), along with the discriminatory housing policies enforced by the American government towards communities living in poverty contrasted with the park’s original intention of becoming a safe haven for all classes. In 1860, the Central Park Board banned active recreational activities such as sports and live music, favoring wealthy (and white) individuals visiting the park to stroll leisurely through the grounds. While today the park embodies a recreational and artistic environment open to all, it’s also worth noting its relevance regarding racial injustices and police brutality.
On the other hand, and while Central Park provides a natural escape from mechanized life, it’s essential to remember all of it is manmade; a mere illusion of nature’s true potential. Fredrick Law Olmsted, widely considered as the first landscape architect, was inspired by the part nature played in foreign cities, specifically Birkenhead Park in Liverpool, England. Among his observations, Olmsted noted the tendency to trim such public spaces, maintaining the poetic aspect of nature while keeping the scene organized. One of his priorities in crafting environments such as Central Park was to respect existing terrain and its eco-diversity so as to not disrupt the natural order of the site. While these postures set the basis for what we enjoy in both public parks and gardens, the truth is humanity as a whole has not complied entirely with Olmsted’s views. The privatization of natural areas and the demolition of natural sites in order to satisfy corporate greed not only favors wealthier classes, but also harms the environment and limits its natural beauty.
Few places have as much cultural and environmental relevance such as Central Park. To enjoy its beauty without being aware of its reasons to be, especially in such trying times, is to miss out on an opportunity to learn about history and design. Certainly a microcosm of manmade design, it’s a space that invites recreation and distraction from the hustle of city life, all the while inviting us to reflect upon social equality, design in large cities, and nature as a necessary element for human life.
References:
Ecker, D. (2020, July 30). "The Lungs of the City": Frederick Law Olmsted, Public Health, and the Creation of Central Park. Retrieved September 13, 2020, from https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/the-lungs-of-the-city-frederick-law-olmsted-public-health-and-the-creation-of-central-park
Jessica Sain-Baird Apr 25, 2. (2020, February 05). How Central Park Keeps New York City Healthy. Retrieved September 13, 2020, from https://www.centralparknyc.org/blog/park-city-healthy
Rich, N. (2016, August 12). When Parks Were Radical. Retrieved September 13, 2020, from https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/09/better-than-nature/492716/
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