Great Lawn - New York City, New York

The Great Lawn

The Great Lawn lies at the center of Central Park in Manhattan, New York City. The Lawn spans 55-acres, from 79th to 85th Streets, and is open from mid-April to mid-November.

Historically, the Great Lawn was not part of Central Park's original plan. In its place was the Croton Reservoir, constructed in 1842; it was drained in 1931 and the area became a haven for the homeless during the Great Depression. Debate over what should be done with the space ranged from a World War I memorial to an opera house and underground parking. In 1937, however, grass was planted and the Great Lawn we know today was created.c 

In the 1950s, eight baseball diamonds were added on the outer rim of the Great Lawn, but a decade later the area had become unkempt. It wasn't until 1995 when a large-scale restoration began by the Central Park Conservancy that the Lawn was returned to the lush, grassy area we know it for today.c 

Events

The Great Lawn hosts an array of film screenings, concerts, plays and cultural events every year. A list of upcoming events can be found on the Central Park website. Past events included performances by the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, Diana Ross, Bon Jovi, Luciano Pavarotti, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Simon & Garfunkel, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez and Dave Matthews among many others.c c 

Relaxation

The Great Lawn is also a lovely place to come relax on a weekend. Bring a frisbee, a picnic, a yoga mat or a book and enjoy the weather and the park.

References

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