Pinebank Arch Restoration

One of the most innovative ideas of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux’s Greensward Plan was the separation of traffic. Their pioneering circulation system allowed pedestrians, equestrians, and carriages to move through the landscape without encountering traffic—using a network of sunken transverse roads, bridges, and arches to keep pathways distinct yet seamlessly connected.

Each bridge and arch was uniquely designed, blending beauty with function. Pinebank Arch, near 62nd Street, is one of four ornamental bridges that carry foot traffic over the bridle path. With its refined cast-iron detailing, it reflects the designer’s belief that even utilitarian structures should enrich the landscape.

The Central Park Conservancy’s restoration of Pinebank Arch will include replacing the existing decking, recasting missing decorative cast-iron pieces, repairing decorative elements, and scraping and painting the cast-iron and steel.

Scope of Work

• Replace existing pine slat decking with tongue and groove Accoya wood decking
• Recast missing decorative cast-iron elements using a mold of existing, undamaged decorative pieces
• Repair decorative cast-iron elements by shaping in place, as needed
• Scrape and paint cast-iron and steel in place, using colors that match existing, based on research and analysis