Great Lawn

At the precise geographical center of Central Park is one of the most famous lawns in the world: the 55-acre Great Lawn.
Visitors can relax or play sports on the open green fields or bring a few friends for a game of baseball. The Great Lawn is a prime spot for sports enthusiasts, picnickers, sunbathers, and families, but few of them know that once, this famous green was all underwater.
Between 1842 and 1931, this area housed the York Hill receiving reservoir, part of the system that first gave New York City fresh water. It was a huge breakthrough for public health, but frustrated Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, designers of the Park, who disliked the aesthetics of the its harsh rectangular shape.
Eventually, the old water system became obsolete, and the reservoir was decommissioned in 1931. Various proposals were submitted to transform the site into a World War I memorial, a sports arena, airport landing pads, an opera house, or a vault to store motion pictures. Instead, it became the pastoral vision of green space that Olmsted and Vaux desired. The lush oval opened in 1937, and the baseball diamonds were added in the 1950s.
In the 20th century, the Great Lawn became a music-lover’s paradise, hosting appearances from Simon and Garfunkel, Diana Ross, Bon Jovi, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Philharmonic. But without the proper maintenance, these events left the lawn near-destroyed and it became “the Great Dust Bowl.”
The Central Park Conservancy restored the lawn in 1997 and continues to care for it, 365 days a year. Today, it is filled with visitors of all ages who come to enjoy the pastoral sights, and views of the New York City skyline.
Things you can do here

Virtual
Winter Tree Walk: Great Lawn
Embark on this special virtual tree walk through the Great Lawn to appreciate some of Central Park’s most beautiful trees in winter.
Tags: Staff Picks

Daily Activities
Volleyball

Self-Guided Tours
Great Lawn Tree Walk
Best known as a spot for picnics and people-watching, the Great Lawn is also home to scores of trees.
Tags: Tree Walks

Health & Fitness
Baseball & Softball
Daily Activities
Kite Flying

Daily Activities
Winter Recreation Guide
If you’re the outdoorsy type who loves to explore Central Park through all weather, there are plenty of ways to get active and enjoy the Park on a cold, snowy day.
Tags: Winter
Daily Activities
Basketball

Daily Activities
Running Guide

Self-Guided Tours
Mid-Park Tour
Explore the middle of Central Park with stops at the Park’s miniature castle, a popular turtle hangout, and the oldest outdoor monument in New York City.
Read more

Park History
A Look at LGBTQ History in Central Park
Tags: Conservancy Staff / Monuments

Q&As
5 Questions with Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinet of the New York Philharmonic
Tags: Q&A

Q&As
5 Questions with Phil Rosenthal, TV Writer and Producer
Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal shares his fondest memories of the Park, his idea of a perfect picnic there, and what he’ll do when the coronavirus pandemic is all over.
Tags: Q&A

Park History
Meeting New York City's Demand for Water
Tags: History / Park Experts

Park Information
10 New Year’s Resolutions for a Central Park Lover
Here are 10 ways to combine a desire for a new you in 2020 with the joy of spending time in Central Park.