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28 Fun Things to Do in Central Park

Andrew Rosenberg 06/12/2017

Updated On: 03/15/2022

People walk around Bethesda Fountain in Central Park in Manhattan

Bethesda Fountain. Photo: Brittany Petronella

Nearly every NYC visitor heads to Central Park at some point, especially in summertime—and these days  it takes on added allure for those looking for a mix of fresh air and some physical distancing. Use this list as a starting block for exploring the City’s favorite green space (though even if you do all these things, you’re still only scratching the surface). Check off those you’ve done, get out to try the ones you haven’t and let us know your favorites and what we missed.

A person at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center/Harlem Meer Environmental Center in the old Central Park boathouse in Manhattan

Harlem Meer. Photo: Alex Lopez

Land a largemouth bass—but make sure to release it—in

Harlem Meer
. Fishing poles and bait are available at the nearby Charles A. Dana Discovery Center.

Central Park SummerStage Concert in Manhattan

Photo: Will Steacy

Hear a new band at 

SummerStage
, or catch one of your favorites there—plenty of well-known acts perform at Rumsey Playfield. This summer’s lineup should be announced soon.

Lennon's Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park in Manhattan

Photo: Willy Wong

Commune with Lennonites at Strawberry Fields’

Imagine Mosaic
, which honors the Beatle who lived across the street in the Dakota Apartments. 

Belvedere Castle in Central Park in Manhattan

Belvedere Castle. Photo: Marley White

Get your steps in at 

Belvedere Castle
. The panoramas from the viewing deck up high are more than worth ascending the tower.

people rowing at Central Park Lake in Manhattan

Photo: Christopher Postlewaite

Row your way around 

the Lake
, or opt for a more relaxing gondola ride, either of which can be done from the
Loeb Boathouse
. Whichever you choose, you’ll get to explore the park’s largest natural body of water.  

 Shakespeare in the Park at Central Park in Manhattan

Photo: Joseph Moran

Yell “Free Bard” at 

Shakespeare in the Park
. OK, don’t actually yell that—you’d get a lot of odd looks—but do try to score tickets (which are free; keep checking the
Public Theater website
 for updates) for a star-studded Shakespearean play at the Delacorte Theater. 

People play Volleyball at  Central Park in Manhattan

Volleyball court. Courtesy, Central Park Conservancy

Play beach volleyball or croquet near

Sheep Meadow
. Bring a ball for the former and your own equipment for the latter.

Conservatory Garden in Central Park in Manhattan

Conservatory Garden. Photo: Grace Tyson

Stop and smell the roses (and sage and catmint) at the

Conservatory Garden
. The blooms in the three European-style gardens that make up the Conservatory Garden change from season to season.

People at the Ramble in Central Park in Manhattan

The Ramble. Courtesy, Central Park Conservancy

Spot a black-throated blue warbler in

the Ramble
—one of the prime bird-watching spots in the City.   

 hieroglyphics at Cleopatra’s Needle, Central Park in Manhattan

Courtesy, Central Park Conservancy

Decipher hieroglyphics at

Cleopatra’s Needle
. This obelisk, a few thousand years old, made its way from Alexandria, Egypt, to Manhattan in the late 1800s.

Bethesda Terrace at Central Park in Manhattan

Bethesda Terrace. Photo: Grace Tyson

Admire the Minton tiles at

Bethesda Terrace Arcade
. Made in England, these ceramic beauties would typically be used to cover floors; here, they line the ceiling.

The Mall and Literary Walk in Central Park, Manhattan

Photo: Will Steacy

Find the odd man out on the

Literary Walk
, as you stroll along the Mall. Hint: he’s still pretty famous but happens to have been an explorer rather than an author.

The Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument, Central Park in Manhattan

The Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument. Courtesy, Central Park Conservancy

And look out for the latest monumental addition—the first in the park in more than 50 years. The

Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument
, on the Mall, comprises bronze sculptures of Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, paying homage to three trailblazers in the fight for equality.

people sitting at The Great Lawn in Central Park, Manhattan

Photo: Christopher Postlewaite

Lay out a blanket on the

Great Lawn
 to sunbathe. If you get restless, take a wander along the lawn’s
Tree Walk
 to see a representative—though still comparatively small, in the scheme of things—number of the park’s nearly 20,000 trees.

People gather to learn about the history of Seneca Village at Central Park in Manhattan

Seneca Village. Courtesy, Central Park Conservancy

Learn about the history of

Seneca Village
, which in the first half of the 1800s was home to a sizeable
free Black community
. The site is near the West 85th Street entrance.

Race sailboats at Conservatory Water in Central Park, Manhattan

Photo: Will Steacy

Race model sailboats at

Conservatory Water
. If it makes you want to reread E. B. White’s Stuart Little, consider that a bonus. 

runner at Central Park, in Manhattan

Photo: Will Steacy

Circle the

Reservoir
 on foot (just make sure to do so counterclockwise). The running track that traces its rim is 1.58 miles; a bridle path just outside it is the tiniest bit longer. 

 carousel in Central Park, Manhattan

Photo: Will Steacy

Spin round and round on a century-old

carousel
. This one was made in 1908, installed at Coney Island until the 1940s and transplanted to Central Park in 1951. 

Meet monarchs in the

North Meadow Butterfly Gardens
. Summer is a good time to see some before they begin their migration south for the winter. 

Swedish Marionette Theatre at Central Park in Manhattan

Photo: Marley White

Watch a puppet show at the

Swedish Marionette Theatre
. 

People play tennis at the Tennis Center in Central Park Conservancy, in Manhattan

Tennis Center. Courtesy, Central Park Conservancy

Play on clay at the

Tennis Center
, and pretend that the French Open has relocated to Manhattan. 

Cherry Hill, Central Park in Manhattan

Photo: Molly Flores

Picnic on the gentle slopes of

Cherry Hill
. Gaze across the calm lake to the towers of the San Remo apartments from your perch. 

Roller dance the weekend away with the

Central Park Dance Skaters Association
. DJs provide the soundtrack; you just need to show up Saturday or Sunday afternoon (starting in April) to the Skate Circle north of Sheep’s Meadow, strap on skates and let the good times roll.

Huddlestone Arch at Central Park, in Manhattan

Huddlestone Arch. Photo: Grace Tyson

Huddle underneath a

natural stone arch
. There are around
40 bridges (and arches)
 in the park, most dating back to the early 1860s when the park was developed.

Swing, climb, crawl and slide your way through the park’s 

21 playgrounds
. The natural spaces of the Billy Johnson Playground, large climbing rocks in the Heckscher Playground and water features of the Toll Family Playground and recently refurbished Robert Bendheim Playground are perennial favorites.

Walk through a humid rainforest in the

Central Park Zoo
. You’ll be looking high and low for lemurs and ibises.

Reenact scenes from books, movies and television at 

Tavern on the Green
 restaurant—or a number of other
park filming locations
. 

People walk around Bethesda Fountain in Central Park in Manhattan

Photo: Christopher Postlewaite

Make a wish at

Bethesda Fountain
.  

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