The Natural Beauty of Central Park

Today I spent many hours exploring New York City's famous Central Park.

This is an amazing place. In many ways Central Park is so much like several other European parks that I have been to on this trip (but that's for another email!).

However, Central Park is MUCH bigger than any other parks that I've been to in Europe or London.


An ice skating rink in Central Park, 12.10pm, December 3 2002.


Central Park is a massive expanse of manicured forest, pathways, statues, artworks, beautiful buildings and little cubby-house like rotundas -- all interspersed between quiet avenues, lakes, cafes, and a few ovals and basketball courts.


Walking and riding to work through Central Park.


Now, that is not to say that Central Park is all a manicured 'garden' -- even though I did notice a lot of busy activity by the 'Park Conservancy' crews who drive around in little golf buggies or great big stretch limousine sized 'pickup' trucks.


An elderly local inspects a Central Park lake, walking around the edge happily cracking the newly formed ice that covers the outskirts of the lake.


Indeed, there are many areas in the park that are more wild and un-tended, and these areas are really peaceful and beautiful. Can you imagine that? A peaceful and tranquil place in the middle of the most famous 'big smoke' in the world -- it certainly gave me a pleasant surprise.


The wild natural beauty of the Ramble, with a lake in the background. Could this really be a part of New York City?


One particular quiet and rather natural area of Central Park is the 'Ramble'. This beautiful region of the park consists of a network of little pathways interweaving throughout lovely little hills and valleys covered with big oak trees and numerous smaller trees all surviving healthily throughout the crisp cold winter months.

Below the trees and along the paths a sea of golden-brown autumn leaves, acorns and chestnuts is strewn across the frozen ground.


A charming little pagoda, frequented in the summer months by New Yorkers for games of chess, is perhaps utilised more in the winter months by homeless New Yorkers sheltering from the bitter New York winter.


Throughout the whole park (and indeed in many little street-side gardens throughout the city), squirrels can be seen boldly foraging for valuable nuts, as they prepare for the colder winter months still ahead.

They are so lovely! They have the most beautiful delicate little fluffy tails that puff out as the squirrels forage around. With the hairs all sticking out in every direction the tails become translucent, making the hairs look as if they are not held together by a central stem at all.


A squirrel surveys Central Park from atop a tree trunk, eyeing other squirrels foraging for nuts and acorns.


These squirrels are actually very bold and cheeky creatures, and I think it is always a surprise for me to see them, because, unlike their equivalents in Melbourne -- the bold nocturnal possums that frequent the city parks around Melbourne in plaque proportions -- these squirrels are bold and active during the day, and hence can be seen so frequently throughout the city.

New Yorkers certainly have their forefathers to thank for having the insight to conserve such a marvelous slice of nature within their blueprints for a grand industrial city.