Literary Walk Path Paving

Located at the southern end of the Mall, Literary Walk was envisioned by Central Park’s designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, as a promenade guiding visitors from the southern end of the Park toward Bethesda Terrace. It received its distinctive name from the statues of literary figures installed along the promenade.

After a restoration project in the early 1990s that introduced hex block pavers and new planting beds, and another in 2006 to improve drainage and irrigation, the Conservancy completed another round of improvements at Literary Walk in spring 2026. This project will include milling and repaving the path, replacing bluestone pavers, refurbishing the benches, and scraping and painting the pipe rail fence and lampposts. This project is part of the Conservancy’s State of Good Repair program, a cyclical maintenance program that helps ensure Central Park’s paths remain in a state of good repair for park users and visitors alike.