Restoration of Central Park’s Cast-Iron Bridges

Restoration projects on Gothic Bridge and Bow Bridge were completed in 2024.

History

Bridge No. 28 (also known as Gothic Bridge) was designed by Calvert Vaux and constructed in the 1860s as part of the original design and construction of Central Park. Gothic Bridge spans the bridle path, just north of the Reservoir. The bridge has had numerous repairs and restorations, but retains substantial portions of the original, historic cast-iron fabric. Significant restorations were carried out in the early 1980s (led by NYC Parks with consultants). Since then, the Conservancy has conducted more limited interventions such as decking replacements, repairs and removals of cast-iron elements, and paint work.

Bow Bridge, also designed by Vaux and constructed in the early 1860s, crosses the Lake (the only one of the Park’s cast-iron bridges to cross a water body rather than the bridle path) and connects the Ramble to Bethesda Terrace and Cherry Hill. As with Gothic Bridge, Bow Bridge has received numerous repairs and restorations throughout the Park’s history. From 2008 to 2015, a series of projects included the restoration of the missing urns at each end of the bridge, structural and abutment repairs, repainting, and deck replacement.

Bridge 28 (Gothic Bridge)

• Replace tongue-and-groove pine decking in-kind
• Recast missing decorative pieces in cast iron using a mold of existing decorative pieces
• Repaired decorative cast-iron elements by shaping them in place, where required
• Scraped and paint cast iron and steel to match existing colors, based on research and analysis

Bow Bridge

• Replaced tongue-and-groove pine decking in-kind, based on historic photographs