Sheep Meadow was the first area in Central Park to be restored

Sheep Meadow today is a 15-acre, lush, green meadow for relaxing and admiring one of New York City's greatest skyline views. But it began less placidly — at least in concept. One of the conditions for entries in the 1858 Central Park design competition was the inclusion of a parade ground for military drills. Olmsted and Vaux included the parade ground in their design only reluctantly. The Park Commissioners were soon won over to their point of view, however, agreeing that military use conflicted with the vision of a quiet and serene atmosphere.

The sheep and a shepherd were housed in a fanciful Victorian building — part of what is now the Tavern on the Green restaurant — on the western perimeter of the Park.  The flock of pedigree Southdown (and later Dorset) sheep inhabited the Meadow from 1864 until 1934, when the sheep were transferred to Prospect Park in Brooklyn and the sheepfold became a restaurant.

In the 1960s and the 1970s thousands of people were attracted to Sheep Meadow for large-scale concerts. The first landing on the moon was televised to a large crowd in the Meadow on July 20, 1969. These events, and the lack of maintenance, severely eroded the lawn. Sheep Meadow was the first area in Central Park to be restored.  It reopened in 1981 as a swath of green dedicated to sunbathers, picnickers, and kite flyers. In November 2000, the Conservancy began the installation of a new irrigation system whose design incorporated the latest technology. Quick-coupler valves for hand watering are located at strategic points; 3,000 feet of irrigation main and 15,000 feet of lateral pipe were also put in to support 300 sprinkler heads. The project was completed in five months, and Sheep Meadow reopened in April 2001.

On the northern edge of Sheep Meadow, just outside its fence, is Lilac Walk. Along the walk are 23 varieties of lilacs from around the world. The Center Drive, slightly further on, offers volleyball and the "skate circle" — the setting for serious roller-skating and disco skating.

To read the Parks Department's historical sign, click here.

Location

• West side, mid-Park from 66th to 69th Streets

Details

• Open mid-April - mid-November
• 11:00 am to dusk in fair weather
• Quiet Zone (dogs are prohibited at all times; no bikes; no organized, active recreation or sports allowed; musical instruments not allowed; headphones required for radios)
  
  

In 1980, Sheep Meadow was restored with funds from the City of New York and the New York State Office of Parks & Recreation.

In 1986, the Conservancy repaved the closed roadway or "Dead Road" on the east side of Sheep Meadow with 1,650 square yards of asphalt for disco-dancing roller skaters.

In 2001, the Conservancy completed the installation of a new irrigation system incorporating the latest techniques and supporting 300 sprinkler heads.