North Woods

Central Park N and Central Park W, West Dr. and Malcolm X Blvd.

To create the 40-acre North Woods, designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux incorporated the area’s existing dramatic topography (including hills and large rock outcrops); added trees and other vegetation; and designed new features such as water bodies, cascades, rustic bridges, and a network of paths for exploring it all. Their goal was to create an impression of a rugged wilderness in the heart of the City.

In the 1980s, the Central Park Conservancy began developing a comprehensive approach to woodland management that would lead to the implementation of major restoration projects. These efforts have made the area an important scenic destination in the north end of the Park and greatly enhanced the health and ecological value of these landscapes.