Central Park Conservancy in the News

On April 2, Michael Strahan kicked off the mowing of Sheep Meadow to help prepare the Park's lawns for their reopening to the public later that week.

If the gray skies and finger-numbing conditions continue, we may well start absentmindedly leaving our coats and sweaters behind on the subway as well. But perhaps we can all learn a lesson from the Central Park Conservancy, an organization that not only believes the seasons will change someday soon, but started acting on that belief sometime ago. Planting, hauling mulch, etc.

Trade in your gym membership for a free workout in Manhattan's shared backyard, thanks to Central Park Conservancy. Trainers Rich Fortunat and Whitney Jacobs helped design this outdoor circuit that utilizes park facilities—such as benches, stairs, hills and lawns—in cardio and strength-building routines. Conservancy members have first dibs on trainer-led workouts, which take place on Tuesdays (6:30–7:30pm, Great Lawn at 81st St) and Thursdays (6:30–7:30pm, Great Hill at 106th St) over spring (May 14–June 20) and summer (July 9–Aug 5).

President & CEO Doug Blonsky explains that while the Conservancy is grateful for the generosity of its many supporters, the organization's staff worked hard in the first decade of its history to make effective, low-cost change in the management and quality of Central Park.

The Central Park Conservancy has been responsible for maintaining and preserving the park for decades, and has been credited with bringing it back to its former glory after a period of decay in the 1970s. How do you keep the most famous park in the world beautiful and running smoothly? The conservancy’s president and CEO, Doug Blonsky, gave me the inside scoop on his labor of love.