Oak Bridge Restored
A new bridge connects to Central Park's history and celebrates the stunning restoration of Bank Rock Bay
Oak Bridge is almost entirely a new construction, based on the bridge that was designed by Calvert Vaux (Frederick Law Olmsted's design partner), and built in 1860 in this same location. The bridge is constructed out of steel that is clad with ornamental castings; its decking and railings are wood. The stone abutments and piers which support the structure are the only remaining elements of the historic bridge. This is the first time the Central Park Conservancy has undertaken such a complex or challenging reconstruction of an original Park structure.
The original Oak Bridge, also known as Bank Rock Bridge, was one of the larger and more elegant of the Park's wooden bridges, constructed of carved white oak with panels of decorative cast iron set in the railings. Similar to Bow Bridge, this bridge was created as one of the major entrances to the Ramble, leading visitors into the area from the path along the West Drive. The original bridge had a rather short lifespan due to deterioration of the woodwork, which required reconstruction and repair on several occasions. By 1935, it was replaced.
To recreate the bridge, the Conservancy's office of design and construction consulted numerous historic photographs of the bridge, archival records about its original construction, and original drawings by Vaux. The new bridge once again marks Bank Rock Bay as a scenic destination and entices park users to explore the Ramble, which has long been a major bird-watching destination.
The restoration was made possible thanks to the generous support of Richard Gilder and Lois Chiles, Robert Wilson, Butler Conservation Fund, Elizabeth Atwood, and Mary Jane Harris.
