CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY
SPRING GUIDE
Now that the long, cold New York City winter is
officially over, it’s time to enjoy New York’s shared
backyard — Central Park! Whether you plan to
attend a free program, take a tour, or simply stroll
through the Park with friends, this Spring Guide
will provide all the information you’ll need to make
your Central Park experience a great one.
The mission of Central Park Conservancy is
to restore, manage, and enhance Central Park
in partnership with the public. Central Park
Conservancy raises 75% of the Park’s annual
budget from private sources and is responsible
for all of the essential work that keeps
Central Park beautiful.
IN THIS GUIDE
NEW EXHIBIT OPENING IN APRIL
Page
2 Your invitation to behind-the-scenes tours
and programs
2
A sneak peek of Central Park’s spring blooms
3Enter to win tickets to a private reception
in Central Park
3A chance to come face to face… or beak…
with Central Park’s majestic winged residents
5The opportunity to stroll through the Park
with Jimmy Fallon
and much more!
See how the large rock outcroppings and passes in Central Park’s
Fort Landscape played an important role in shaping our city’s — and
nation’s — history, and how the Central Park Conservancy serves
as steward for this history today. This exhibit reveals the fascinating
findings of archaeological and historical investigations conducted
as part of the 2013–2014 landscape restoration which upgraded
infrastructure and re-created the scenic overlooks. Learn more at
centralparknyc.org/landforms
Opening April 15
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (Inside Central Park at
110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues). Free.
CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SPRING GUIDE 2016
PAGE 2
SHAKESPEARE GARDEN ANNIVERSARY SPRING BLOOMS
On April 23, 2016, Central Park’s Shakespeare Garden will celebrate
its 100th anniversary. The Garden, dedicated to the memory of
William Shakespeare in 1916, is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s native
English countryside and features flowers, plants, and shrubs
mentioned in the Bard’s writings. The Garden’s diverse array of
plants, including columbine, primrose, wormwood, quince, lark’s
heel, rue, eglantine, flax, and cowslip, are accompanied by small
plaques featuring quotations from Shakespearean works that
reference the Garden’s flowers.
Part of the magic of spring in Central Park is spotting the first
blooms on the thousands of flowers planted throughout the Park.
Have you seen any of these classic spring flowers on your visits
to Central Park? You can learn more about these plants, and
hundreds of others, in our free online Bloom Guide available at
centralparknyc.org/bloomguide
Lilac
The Conservancy is offering a diverse collection of programming
this spring in celebration of the Shakespeare Garden’s 100th
anniversary. All programs take place at Belvedere Castle.
Botanical Name: Syringa vulgaris
Plant Type: Shrub
Typical Bloom Time: Mid-April to May
Where to see: Obelisk & Great Lawn
landscapes
Discovery Walks for Families
Daffodil
April 26, 27, and 28: 10:00 am & 1:00 pm
Bring your family for hands-on exploration of the Garden. Ages 5+.
Free; advance registration is required.
centralparknyc.org/discovery
Discovery Journal
Daily, starting April 15, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Create your own Garden adventure, exploring the roles of a
Shakespeare Garden designer, gardener, and naturalist through
activities. Best for ages 6 – 10. Journals $2 each (Members free).
centralparknyc.org/discovery
Shakespeare Garden Tours
April 14 and 23: 11:00 am & 2:00 pm
Join the Shakespeare Garden Zone Gardener, Larry Boes, for
a special walk in the garden.
centralparknyc.org/tours
On a Wing Festival
Saturday, May 7: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Celebrate the Garden’s biodiversity during migration season with
an afternoon of family-friendly birding basics and introductions
to live bats, butterflies, and birds of prey. All ages. Free.
centralparknyc.org/wing
Botanical Name: Narcissus
Plant Type: Perennial
Typical Bloom Time: March to May
Where to see: Throughout Central Park,
with 25 varieties found in the Conservatory
Garden alone!
Kwanzan Cherry
Botanical Name: Prunus serrulata
Plant Type: Tree
Typical Bloom Time: Mid to late April
Where to see: Along the Reservoir,
near the entrance at East 90th Street
As you see new blooms show their colors, take a picture and
tag us on social media @CentralParkNYC. We’ll be sharing
our favorite blooms all through the spring using the hashtag,
#CentralParkBloomWatch2016. Your photo might even be featured
on our social media channels!
CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SPRING GUIDE 2016
PAGE 3
CAST YOUR VOTE
What’s your favorite sign of spring in Central Park?
Take our poll to let us know, and you could win a pair of tickets
to a behind-the-scenes Spring Blooms Tour on April 26,
including a special reception.
Vote at centralparknyc.org/2016spring
YOUR INSIDER GUIDE:
CONSERVATORY GARDEN
NOT JUST FOR THE BIRDS…
MIGRATION SEASON IN CENTRAL PARK
Spring is the perfect season to visit the Conservatory Garden,
a lush oasis in the Park’s northern end.
Central Park’s woodlands are a thriving wildlife habitat, especially
in the month of May. Due to the Park’s location along the Atlantic
Flyway — the migration route birds follow in the spring and fall —
the woodlands are the center of birding activity in the Park. Over
230 species have been spotted during migration season, and over
40 other species remain in the Park all year long. Learn more about
Central Park’s avian visitors with your family at Birding Basics for
Families. Ages 5+. Free; advance registration is required. For more
info, visit centralparknyc.org/birdingbasics
What you’ll see: Central Park’s only formal garden, the six-acre
Conservatory Garden, is divided into three section. To the north,
the French garden features an elliptical layout with hundreds of
tulips encircling the Three Dancing Maidens fountain. In the central
Italian garden, a rectangular lawn surrounded by yew hedges and
crapabble allées abuts a wisteria pergola and geyser fountain. To
the south, the English garden has an intimate and spontaneous
feeling and includes a delicate fountain placed in memory of
Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author of The Secret Garden.
When to go: According to Conservancy horticultural experts,
April 20 – May 3 will likely be the peak bloom season for the
Garden’s allées of crabapple trees, which will burst into fragrant
pink blooms. That period will also be the best time to see the
garden’s 45,000 tulips and daffodils in dozens of varieties.
May 8 – May 15 will likely be the peak bloom of the Garden’s lilacs
and wisteria, including hundreds of soft purple bulbs winding
through the Italian garden’s central pergola.
Conservatory Garden is open daily from 8:00 am to dusk and is
a designated Quiet Zone.
Learn more at centralparknyc.org/conservatorygarden
Birding Basics for Families: The Ramble
Saturdays, April 30 – May 28: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Meet at Belvedere Castle
Birding Basics for Families: The North Woods
Sundays, May 1 – May 29: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Meet at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center
On a Wing Festival
Saturday, May 7: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Meet at Belvedere Castle
Celebrate the Park’s biodiversity during migration season with
an afternoon of family-friendly birding basics and introductions
to live bats, butterflies, and birds of prey. All ages. Free.
centralparknyc.org/wing
CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SPRING GUIDE 2016
PAGE 4
DISCOVERY PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
In busy New York City, it can be tough to find time to enjoy nature
with your family. Discovery Programs in Central Park are designed
to do just that — and more! Through these programs, your family
can explore Central Park together and learn about the unique
ecosystem of plants, animals, and people that exists in Central
Park. Learn more at centralparknyc.org/discovery
DISCOVERY CLUB FOR FAMILIES
Discover how Central Park’s landscapes are kept healthy and
diverse for people and wildlife in this five-part immersive woodland
adventure in the North Woods!
Session 1
Saturdays, April 23 – May 21
10:00 am – 12:00 pm (grades 1-2) | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (grades 3-4)
Session 2
Saturdays, June 4 – July 2
10:00 am – 12:00 pm (grades 1-2) | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (grades 3-4)
DISCOVERY WALKS FOR FAMILIES
Take a trek with Conservancy experts and learn about Central Park’s
landscapes through hands-on exploration using Discovery Kits.
The Ramble
Sundays, April 3 and June 26
10:00 am – 11:30 am | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
The Shakespeare Garden
April 26, 27, and 28
10:00 am – 11:30 am | 1:00 – 2:30 pm
South Park Tree Walk
Sunday, May 1
10:00 am – 11:30 am | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Discovery Programs are generously supported by
The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation.
These programs are additionally supported in part by the Brooke Astor
Fund for New York City Education in The New York Community Trust.
Official Central Park Tours take place daily throughout the spring.
Here are some of our favorites:
West Side Stories
Some say the West side is the best side. Do you agree? We don’t pick
favorites, but we can’t deny that Central Park’s West side contains
some fascinating history. Learn more on this tour.
The Shakespeare Garden
Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the Shakespeare
Garden is dedicated to the memory of William Shakespeare and
is designed to evoke his native English countryside.
Northern Forts
Learn about the pre-Park history of the Fort Landscape and the
strategic role these sites played in the American Revolution and
the War of 1812.
Learn more at centralparknyc.org/tours
FOR DOG OWNERS
If your dog loves Central Park as much as you do, you won’t want
to miss these monthly meet-ups for the Park’s vibrant dog community.
Hosted by Central Park Paws, Bagel Barks include breakfast and
the chance to socialize with new friends… two-legged and fourlegged alike! Learn more at centralparknyc.org/paws
Bagel Bark
Saturday, April 2
7:30 am - 9:30 am
Lawn adjacent to Heckscher Ballfield #3
Saturday, May 7
7:30 am - 9:30 am
Lawn adjacent to North Meadow
Ballfield #12
CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY SPRING GUIDE 2016
PAGE 5
MEMBER-ONLY PROGRAMS
BENEFIT EVENTS
Not a member? Join today at centralparknyc.org/membership
to gain access to these member-only programs in Central Park.
Members also receive year-round discounts at Park Visitor
Centers, discounted registration for Central Park Tours and
programs, and invitations to unique events in Central Park.
All ticket sales will benefit the Conservancy’s ongoing work to
restore, manage, and enhance Central Park.
Hound Hike: Iconic Views
of Central Park
Playground Party: Slide into Summer
Bring the whole family for this celebration of Central Park’s
playgrounds, featuring face painting, arts and crafts, sports
and interactive games, delicious snacks, and a live teen DJ.
Wednesday, May 25
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Heckscher Playground
Bring your canine companion
for a guided tour of some of
Central Park’s most beautiful
landscapes.
Buy tickets at
centralparknyc.org/
playgroundparty
Sunday, April 10
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Meet at the Dairy
Drawing Class with
Jessica Daryl Winer
Hone your creative skills in an
intimate setting with an expert
Central Park artist.
Saturday, April 30
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Meet at the Charles A. Dana
Discovery Center
Playground Party is sponsored by
Goldman Sachs Gives, The Easton;
a new development by Related, and
Brooks Brothers.
Taste of Summer
Presented by Macquarie
This benefit event with culinary flair brings together thirty-five
of the City’s best restaurants for an evening of fine food tastings,
craft cocktails, and dancing.
Wednesday, June 8
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Bethesda Terrace
Jessica Daryl Winer, Turkey Oak
(Reservoir Running Track)
Buy tickets at
centralparknyc.org/taste
Learn more at centralparknyc.org/memberprograms
CELEBRITY
AUDIO GUIDE
Have you ever wanted to walk through Central Park with Jimmy
Fallon, Neil Patrick Harris, or Sarah Jessica Parker? If you’re
using the Central Park Audio Guide, you can! Simply download
the Central Park Conservancy App and you can hear your
favorite celebrities talk about their favorite places in
Central Park. Learn more at centralparknyc.org/audio
Evening in the Garden
Hosted by the Conservancy’s Network of Young Professionals, this
social calendar staple brings young New Yorkers together to enjoy
cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Park’s six-acre formal garden.
Wednesday, June 22
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Conservatory Garden
Buy tickets at
centralparknyc.org/evening
CENTRAL PARK MAP
Hours
Central Park opens at 6:00 am and closes at 1:00 am, 365 days a year.
Visitor Centers and Facilities
Start your trip at a Visitor Center. Look for this icon on the map.
Belvedere Castle
Mid-Park at 79th Street
Columbus Circle Information Kiosk
Central Park West at 59th Street
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center
Dairy Visitor Center
110th Street between Fifth & Lenox Avenues Mid-Park at 65th Street
Chess & Checkers House
Mid-Park at 64th Street
North Meadow Recreation Center
Mid-Park at 97th Street
Points of Interest
EAST
WEST
Maine Monument
E 59
Grand Army Plaza
W 65Carousel
E 62
Central Park Zoo
W 66
Tavern on the Green
E 63
Wollman Rink
W 69
Mineral Springs
E 64Arsenal
W 73
Bow Bridge
E 65
W 75
Ladies Pavilion
E 67Balto
W
W 59
W 79Shakespeare Garden / Marionette
Theatre at the Swedish Cottage
E
E 70
Tisch Children’s Zoo
Naumburg Bandshell
W 81
Delacorte Theater
E 72Bethesda Terrace & Fountain /
Minton Tile Ceiling
W 95
Tennis Courts
E 74
Loeb Boathouse
E 75
Alice in Wonderland
W 109Blockhouse
E 81Obelisk
E 105
Conservatory Garden
E 107
Lasker Rink & Pool
Connect with us
@centralparknyc
Map Key
Visitor Centers
Playgrounds
Information Kiosk (open seasonally)
Food / Closed Winter
Restrooms / Closed Winter
Wheelchair Accessible
Park Drive (shared by pedestrians,
bicyclists, and vehicles)
Transverse Roads (for vehicles only)
Pedestrian Paths (for pedestrians only)
Bridle Paths (no bicyclists)
Emergency Call Boxes or Dial 911