Page 204 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

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the rooftop. Inside is the Henry
Luce Nature Observ atory, with a
delightful exhibit telling
inquisitive young visitors about
the surprising variety of wild life
to be found in the park.
The view to the north from
the castle allows you to look
down into the Delacorte
Theater, home to the free
productions of Shakespeare in
The Carousel, part of the park’s Children’s District the Park every summer, often
featuring big-name stars (see
1 The Dairy city of Naples in Italy. This p341). The theater was the gift
broad expanse of the park’s of George T. Delacorte. Publisher
Map 12 F2. Tel (212) 794-6564.
q Fifth Ave. Open 10am–5pm daily. landscape was designed by and founder of Dell paperbacks,
Slide show. = Vaux and Olmsted. Now it is Delacorte was a delightful
∑ centralparknyc.org an international peace garden, philanthropist who was
with 121 species of plants from responsible for many of the
Now used as Central Park’s across the globe, including park’s pleasures.
visitor center, this charming jetbead, roses, witch hazel,
building of natural stone was birches – and strawberries.
planned as part of the “Children’s 4 Bow Bridge
District” of the park, which Map 16 E5. q 72nd St.
included a playground, the 3 Belvedere Castle
Carousel, a Children’s Cottage, Map 16 E4. Tel (212) 772-0210. This is one of the park’s seven
and stable. In 1873, there were q 81st St. Open 10am–5pm daily. original cast-iron bridges and is
cows grazing on the meadows Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, Dec 25. considered one of the finest. It
in front of the Dairy, a ewe and 7 to main floor only. was designed by Vaux as a bow
her lambs feeding nearby, and tying together the two large
chickens, guinea fowl, and This stone castle atop Vista sections of the lake. In the 19th
peacocks roaming the lawn. Rock, complete with tower and century, when the Lake was
City children could get fresh turrets, offers one of the best used for ice skating, a red ball
milk and other refresh ments views of the park and the city was hoisted from a bell tower
here. Over the years, the Dairy from its lookout on on Vista Rock to signal that
deteriorated, being used as a the ice was safe. The
shed until restor ation in 1979, bridge offers
carried out according to original expansive views
photo graphs and drawings. of the park and
The Dairy is the place to begin the buildings
exploring the lush and leafy park; bordering it on
maps and details of events can both the east
be obtained here. Visitors can and west sides.
also rent chess and checkers
sets for use on the pretty inlaid
boards of the Kinderberg, the
charming “children’s hill” nearby.

2 Strawberry Fields
Map 12 E1. q 72nd St.
The restoration of this tear-
drop-shaped section of the
park was Yoko Ono’s tribute in
memory of her slain husband,
John Lennon. They lived in the
Dakota apart ments over looking
this spot (see p212). Gifts for the
garden came from all over the
world. A mosaic set in the
pathway, inscribed with the word
“Imagine” (named for Lennon’s
famous song), was a gift from the A tranquil scene in Central Park, overlooked by exclusive apartments

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