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A small, two-acre water body, the Pool is one of Central Park's most beautiful, yet lesser known landscapes
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The Pool is one of the most idyllic landscapes in Central Park. All the elements of Olmsted and Vaux's original design have endured here and matured. Few landscapes in the Park have the renewing spiritual quality of the Pool. The grassy banks, the willows bent over the water, the rushing sounds of a nearby waterfall, all make it a unique spot for contemplation or meditation in the midst of the bustling City.
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Contemplating the Pool's serenity
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Near the southwest section of the Pool is a naturalistic boulder grotto where a stream ripples forth and flows into the Pool. This little grotto is a perfect reminder that Central Park is entirely man-made: behind the boulder is a 48-inch pipe that brings water from the Reservoir. This conduit is, amazingly, the main source of water that keeps the Pool, the Loch, and the Harlem Meer filled and the cascades in between running.
The most dramatic cascade, recalling mountain hikes or trips to northern New York State's Adirondack forests, is by the bridge at the northeast corner of the Pool. Here, water pours over the rocky man-made dam to create a 14-foot high waterfall. At the cascade's base begins the stream called the Loch; it flows under Glenspan Arch and into the wooded Ravine. Here, the landscape changes from the romantic Pool with its willows and red maple to a pathway beneath a canopy of oaks, elms, and maples.
In the spring of 2003, a $1.5 million restoration of the Pool was completed, supported by a generous gift to the Conservancy. The Pool's features were enhanced: new settee benches and path lights were installed, the site was graded, and attractive aquatic plants were introduced at the water's edge.
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