One of the many Central Park passages

One delightfully sun-drenched and chilly day around this time last year, I wandered into Central Park and found myself at Sheep Meadow.  The breeze. The sun. The smell of fresh grass.  Fortunately, I was wearing my terrifically versatile snuggly coat that I used as a blanket to stretch out and gaze up at the sun.  When was the last time that I was here?  I could not recall, which meant that it had been too long. But I was there now. Listening to my iPod, zoning out but tuned in enough to be aware of my shortest hairs tickling my forehead as the wind blew across my face. I took off one sneaker and planted my foot in the cool blades of grass that felt deceivingly wet. I was in the moment.  Very present. I took a few snaps of the sunny sky and blinked away the spots. Oh, how rare is the feeling of being unblocked? Unblocked under the wide-open sky in the middle of Manhattan.

Sheep Meadow

Sun snap

To locals, Central Park is our backyard, our own treasure trove. To visitors, it is a lush reminder that Manhattan is much more than a concrete jungle.  I encourage sightseers to spend time in Central Park.  If your goal is to see celebrated Manhattan’s sights, then I suggest hitting the highlights of the Park if you can narrow it down from the many possibilities. Belvedere Castle with its fantastic panoramic views; Bethesda Terrace home to the famous Angel of the Waters statue; The Obelisk; Alice in Wonderland Statue; Vanderbilt Gate; Hans Christian Andersen Statue; the Zoo, The Mall & Literary Walk; The Ramble, Turtle Pond, Strawberry Fields & the Imagine mosaic, both serving as a living memorial to John Lennon; the many Arches and Bridges and of course, the Lake with its row boaters and the not-to-be-missed Boathouse.

Pergola in the Park

Sheep Meadow is a 15-acre preserve located in the South End of Central Park and has a colorful history.  From sheep (hence the name) grazing until 1934 to President Harry S. Truman speaking on Navy Day in 1945 to a rare Barbra Streisand concert in 1967 to shared gasps of convened people watching the televised broadcast of the first moon landing in 1969 to park regulars rejoicing in 1981 when the Meadow was reopened after a massive renovation. Sheep Meadow is currently a haven for masses of sunbathers, picnickers, kite-fliers and serenity-seeking, breeze-loving locals like MOI!

Light at the end of the tunnel

Spring. love.

Central Park is open year round but if you wish to visit Sheep Meadow, it is open from mid-April to mid-October from dawn to dusk in fair weather.

http://www.centralparknyc.org