How Central Park Was Designed as a Park for the People

In 1853, the New York State Legislature set aside the land to create Central Park. The intention behind that historic act was to transform rock outcrops, swamps, and marshland into “a public place” that would provide a beautiful and democratic space for all New Yorkers.

In the 1840s, New York was the most populous city in the western hemisphere and experiencing its first wave of German and Irish immigrants, who were not always welcomed into the City’s neighborhoods. As diversity multiplied and the downtown population soared, private and gated enclaves, such as St. John’s Park and Gramercy Park, were developed only for the well-to-do residents of surrounding homes. Many social reformers at the time felt that this was inconsistent with American values, and understood that a public park could reverse this alarming situation.

When Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux were chosen to plan the new park, they set out to resolve this tear in the social fabric and create a space designed to bring all people together regardless of their backgrounds. You can still find evidence of this vision in the Park’s design today.

Named gates: honoring the people of New York City

Central Park’s homage to all New Yorkers begins, fittingly, at its entrances. That’s where the Park Commissioners honored professions and groups that helped make New York City a great metropolis.

The commissioners suggested a naming system at the Park’s four entrances along 59th Street, incorporating four main occupations: Scholars’ Gate (at Fifth Avenue), Artists’ Gate (at Sixth Avenue), Artisans’ Gate (at Seventh Avenue) and Merchants’ Gate (at Eighth Avenue). Other gates honor professions that played a prominent role in New York City’s history: Pioneers, Farmers, Hunters, Miners, Woodsmen, Mariners, Engineers, Inventors, and Warriors. The other gates single out significant members of the population: Women (at West 72nd Street), Boys (at West 100th Street), Girls (at East 102nd Street), and most importantly, Strangers’ Gate, at West 106th Street, for the prominent role immigrants have played in New York City’s development.

In 2022, the Gate of the Exonerated was a historic addition, named to commemorate the experience of the Exonerated Five and honor all of those wrongly convicted of crimes.

Sculpture: providing a democratic education

The City’s ethnic communities began gifting the Park with statues that honored their national heroes, such as German-born poet Johann C.F. von Schiller, Irish poet Thomas Moore, and Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, among others. These sculptures became a reflection of the City’s “melting pot” and the pride each immigrant group felt for the contributions from their cultural and political leaders.

Initially, the Park’s gates were meant to feature statues representing each of the named professions or groups. The original plan was never fully realized, with the exception of Samuel F.B. Morse, the famed inventor of the wire telegraph, at Inventors’ Gate.

Pathways in the Park: bringing people together

Inside the Park, Olmsted and Vaux included three different categories of pathways—pedestrian walkways, carriage drives, and a bridle path. In the 19th century, congested City streets posed safety concerns, so separating traffic from pedestrians, carriages, and horses in the Park offered visitors peace of mind as they moved throughout the landscapes.

The three types of paths provided different ways to experience the landscape, but they didn't accommodate large groups for gathering. The Mall, perhaps the Park’s most famous path, was designed specifically for this. Inspired by the public spaces of Europe, such as Piazza San Marco in Venice and the Champs Élysées in Paris, it was a place for the City’s diverse populace to come together.

While the City backdrop may have changed, Central Park’s purpose remains the same: to provide a retreat for all visitors who walk through the gates. In celebration of its 165th anniversary, we honor the Park that continues to bring millions of people together today—and give our thanks to you, for helping us care for this sacred New York space.