Exploring Central Park from 59th Street to 72nd Street

Central Park is Manhattan’s greatest outdoor treasure, combining the subtle beauty of nature with the nuance and immediacy of urban life. The adventures in this beast of a park are limitless, which is as exciting as it is daunting. To help, I’ve curated a three-part walking guide of Central Park, breaking down each section in hopes that by examining the park piece by piece, it’ll paint a clearer picture of what’s hidden within the stone gates.

What better place to start than the beginning? I’ve labeled this first section as Central Park South, between 59th and 72nd Streets. I further break down this section into the Southwest, South Central, and Southeast Sections. I’ll be giving you an in-depth look at these intricate trails, designed for experienced steppers and casual strollers alike.

The southern section is one of the most consistently busy areas of the park, making for a lively afternoon stroll amongst fellow walkers, dogs, and the occasional black squirrel.

The Southwest Section

Enter at 59th Street and Central Park West, right off Columbus Circle. You’ll be greeted with a variety of food carts selling you street meat, ice cream, and cold drinks. And yes, street meat can be trusted. You’ll also notice people offering rides on their bikes or horse-drawn carriages. Just strut right by them. The horses are treated unfairly and the bikers will charge you more money than it’s worth.

Here in the western corner, you’ll first see the main street, Park Drive, where bikers and runners bustle through. Be aware that bikers don’t always follow the traffic signs and won’t stop for pedestrians crossing. A little past the 59th Street entrance, on the very left side are public restrooms. Stop there for a bathroom break if you need, if not, slide through the stampede of bikers and cross the street.

You’ve now officially crossed the threshold into Central Park and are heading towards the Pinebank Arch. This delightful little overpass will take you over to the Heckscher Ballfields, a series of baseball fields marking the beginning of the Children’s District of Central Park.

To your left is a small dirt pit, often used by schools for recess and dog owners who let their furry friends off-leash before 9:30 AM, when it’s permitted. On the northeast end of the field, you’ll find The Ballplayers’ House, a small cafe for refueling, and the Carousel, where you can treat the kids to a couple spins on the old porcelain horse (of course at a New York price). On a nice day, a person will often be selling fruit cups next to the Carousel. In my experience, the fruit is perfectly fresh and delicious—albeit cash-only and more expensive than you’d hope for.

South of the field is the chaotic Heckscher Playground with sprinklers in the summer, unique play structures, and reasonably clean public restrooms right next door, though there never seems to be enough toilet paper.

For sports families, or someone looking for free entertainment, the intramural baseball and kickball teams come out to play during the warmer months. I’ve sat in the stands for hours hanging out with the players and getting far too invested in their game. Visiting, or even living in New York, can feel intimidating due to the sheer amount of people bustling through, but the ballfields really bring in that missing sense of community.

North of the ballfields is Sheep Meadow, a field that makes for a better picnic spot than a walk. Around the corner from Sheep Meadow is the Le Pain Quotidien Cafe with free restrooms. To the left of the meadow is the legendary Tavern on the Green, an upscale restaurant and bar you might recognize from the movie Mr. Popper’s Penguins.

Continue north, past Sheep Meadow and you’ll stumble upon the Central Park Lake. We’re still on the west side of the park, but you’ll find that the Lake rambles around to the center. This is one of the most scenic sections of the park and a favorite amongst engagement and wedding photographers.

Northwest of the Lake is the 72nd Street entrance, which features a musically marvelous attraction, the John Lennon Memorial. This section of the park is called Strawberry Fields. Here you’ll find yourself tapping your toe as you strut past a street performer paying homage to the late John Lennon with Beatles tunes. Underneath your feet, you’ll see the iconic ‘Imagine’ mosaic, a staple dedicated to the life and death of one of New York’s favorite former residents. Outside of the park, along Central Park West and 72nd Street is the Dakota Building, where Lennon lived and was murdered.

The ‘Imagine’ Mosaic

The South Central Section

The middle of this lower section of Central Park is bursting with great walks. If you continue along your walk at the Lake, you’ll move further east into the center past the Cherry Hill Fountain, get an extraordinary view of Bow Bridge, and land at the Bethesda Fountain, Terrance, and Arcade. You’ll notice how beloved this area is with the large amounts of people shuffling in and out. You’ll probably see a street performer serenading passersby in the Arcade, which is a gorgeous spot for pictures and a nice place to cool down. Walking up the stairs to the Terrace, you’ll see public restrooms free for walkers to use.

When you emerge from the top of the stairs, you’ll be facing south, looking at the Mall and Literary Walk. This lovely strip features glorious elm trees as well as statues of literary icons such as William Shakespeare. More importantly, you’ll see the women’s pioneer statues, featuring trailblazing women like Susan B. Anthony.

The Mall and Literary Walk

Below the Literary Walk is the Visitor’s Center where you’ll find the gift shop, because they have to capitalize on the park somehow. Below that is the Wollman Rink which hosts ice skating in the winter and sometimes pickle ball or tennis in the warmer months. There’s often a little eatery on the edge where you can grab a bite and watch people fall off their skates.

Continue walking south from there to find the Hallett Nature Sanctuary. This lesser-known Central Park gem allows you to wander through and around a nature-packed woodland area. It’s open from 11 AM to 8 PM.

The Hallett Nature Sanctuary Gate

The Southeast Section

To explore the east end of Central Park South, begin by entering at 59th Street and 5th Ave. The first thing you’ll see is the Central Park Zoo. You can enter the main strip for free and gawk at the sea lions for a minute, but admission into the rest of the zoo requires a paid ticket. You’ll also find the Tisch Children’s Zoo on the northern tip, past the archway.

I suggest putting the zoo off for a moment and detouring slightly west to the Pond. The Pond is a charming little body of water with turtles, ducks, and vegetation galore. You can stroll over Gapstow Bridge where you’ll see a breathtaking view of the water and the Plaza Hotel on 59th Street.

After you’ve made friends with the ducks, you can head back over to the zoo, unless you want to continue west and that’s where you’ll come across the Hallett Nature Sanctuary that I mentioned earlier. But to break down the east portion, you’ll want to use the zoo as a throughway to the rest of the walk. After you’ve exited the zoo, you’ll see the Native Meadow to your left, a peaceful little path that takes you through a passage of native flowers. This walk is only open in the spring and summer.

Keep moving north and you’ll stumble onto the Balto statue. Balto was a heroic sled dog who delivered medicine to Alaskan children and saved them from diphtheria. You can honor him for a minute then keep moving uptown past the Billy Johnson Playground and over to the Summerhouse at the Dene. This is a charming wooden vista atop a small hill. This is a great photo opportunity and break between walking.

You’ll end your Central Park South journey at the East Green. Here you’ll be joined by lots of furry playmates and picnickers soaking in the sun. This is one of Central Park’s smaller fields, but it does the trick. If you wander deeper west, past the East Green, you’ll see the Summerstage in Central Park. This feels important to note, though it offers nothing to those just seeking a walk.

There you have it! A walk through the Southern end of Central Park. To continue your walking journey, check out the Official Walking Tour for the Middle of Central Park. Sign up for my newsletter and email list to stay tuned for a breakdown of the North Side as well. By the end of this series, you’ll be an expert Central Park walker and never have to look at a map again.

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