The Answer...is Build a Floating Bandstand on the Lake

Olmsted’s idea of a floating bandstand never came to fruition, and today, concerts take place on the Great Lawn, Sheep Meadow, and the Park’s other gorgeously grassy expanses. But Olmsted was right about one thing: All that foot traffic is hard on the lawn!

The Conservancy cares for the Park's lawns by monitoring their conditions, mowing, overseeding, aerating, and sampling the soil. Overseeding (the practice of planting seeds on top of existing grass) keeps the lawns lush and thick. Aerating (poking holes in the soil to give it air) relieves stress on the grass from foot traffic. Mowing the lawns on a regular schedule keeps the grass an ideal height of three inches. All these steps together are necessary for maintaining lawn health when millions of people visit the Park each year. And a healthy lawn—which prevents soil erosion, cools the air, and gives flood waters a space to drain—is an integral part of a healthy Park.

In fact, restoring a lawn was one of the Central Park Conservancy’s first projects in 1980, when the organization was founded. Check out these pictures of Sheep Meadow in 1980 and today.

Want to help the Conservancy with restoration projects like this? Become a member today! Every dollar you donate goes toward the maintenance and care of the Park.