Frederick
Law Olmsted’s Sublime Achievement: Central Park
When
someone thinks of New York City, usually the thought of tall skyscrapers, the
beautiful Manhattan skyline, and the site of busy and crowded streets first
come to mind. However, don’t be deceived, New York City is not just an urban
jungle. Placed dead center of all the chaos and busy city life is an 840 acre
piece of land that spans two and a half miles from 59th Street to
110th Street (Waxman, 2012). Here lies a place where New Yorkers can
escape and take a break from the busy lives that can sometimes consume them. A
mere stroll on Strawberry Fields or a visit to the Bethesda Fountain, can ease
the mind of the city life that lingers just outside the gates of the park. This
place of oasis and tranquility is called Central Park and was designed by Frederick
Law Olmsted (1822-1903), a landscape architect. His simplistic style in
designing Central Park has made it possible for city dwellers to experience
nature at another level. Olmsted has changed the face of urban landscape and
has made great impact on the life of New York City.
Olmsted is considered one of America’s
pioneer landscape architects. Some would also say he is a Jack of all trades. Before
discovering his talent in landscape architecture, he has worked in other areas
as well. Olmsted has quite the resume. At one point in his life, he was once a
tradesman, farmer, bookkeeper, seaman, surveyor, publisher, writer of travel
books, and a newspaper reporter that covered social issues (Lane, 2012). Not
all at once of course. He went to school at Yale and Harvard University, but
did not complete a college degree. At the age of 35, Olmsted’s true calling, landscape
architecture, began to take root when he joined the design team for the
creation of New York City’s Central Park (Lane, 2012).
It was said that Europeans viewed
Americans as people who lacked civic duty and appreciation for cultural
refinement (Waxman, 2012). Americans wanted to prove this idea wrong and therefore,
the idea of creating Central Park was spearheaded. After talks of developing a
park, many people had their expectations of what the park would be like. The
upper class of New York pictured a countryside where the wealthy can flaunt their
carriages and socialize, while the poor can simply watch from afar and benefit
from the clean air (Waxman, 2012). When choosing the location of the park, the
city decided to make it on a rocky, swampy terrain that was not suitable for
commercial building. The establishment of Central Park was approved by the New
York State Legislature in 1853. Thanks to the encouragement of Charles Elliot,
a friend and a commissioner on the Central Park board, Olmsted applied for the
position of Central Park superintendent and was hired in 1857. His starting
salary as superintendent was $1,500 a year. Olmsted worked alongside Calvert
Vaux, an English architect who was also working on the design for Central Park.
Together, both Olmsted and Vaux designed what was called the Greensward Plan
and submitted it 1858. The plan aimed to combine formal and naturalistic
settings with architectural flourishes, as seen in the park’s Bethesda Terrace
or the ornate bridges that surround the park (“Olmsted-Designed New York City
Parks,” 2012). The Greensward Plan was approved and Olmsted was given the title
of Chief Architect of Central Park. Construction of the Greensward Plan started
the same year it was submitted. Thousands of Irish, German, and New England
laborers worked a dollar a day to bring the park to life. In 1858, the park was
opened to the public for the first time. Ten million dollars and more than a
decade later, construction was completed in 1873 (Waxman, 2012), and the rest
is history.
Olmsted’s role as landscape
architect and dedication to planning the design of Central Park has greatly contributed
to the life of New York City in many ways. First and foremost, it has made it
possible for city dwellers to have access to nature and green space. During the
early 19th century, before Central Park was built, the only parks
that existed were either small estates that were given by the city or gardens
that belonged to the wealthy. This therefore shows that the development of
Central Park was monumental. One didn’t have to be wealthy and travel to get
away from the city. Although at first, Central Park was considered an elite
oasis, it later shaped into a public area where everyone was welcome, no matter
what social class. This is significant to New York City life because it helped
to break down the division and inequality between the social classes. Olmsted
developed a set of social values for his design. As you can see, his designs
were intentional and served purpose. He believed in “community and the importance
of public institutions of culture and education” (Alexander, 2011). Central
Park is free of social ties. It was simply there for the enjoyment of the public.
Olmsted believed that Central Park was “a
counterpoise to the artificiality of the built-up city, a restorative to the
stress of the urban life, an educational force” (Wright, 2008). Olmsted’s
simplistic design of Central Park has impacted the life of New York City. It allowed
for the public to have a quick getaway from the busyness of the city. Olmsted’s
work is significant in New York City life because he has made Central Park
easily accessible to the public, considering it is located in the center of
Manhattan. Olmsted wanted to democratize nature and heal people’s mental
conditions. He believed that interacting with nature and relieving ordinary
cares is favorable to one’s health. He also once said, “What a month of two in
the White Mountains or the Adirondacks is, at great cost, to those in easier
circumstances” (Alexander, 2011). This goes to show that Olmsted emphasized
that this park serves as an escape just as the White Mountains and Adirondacks do.
The park’s sheep meadows, ponds, zoo, reservoir, woodland trails, trees, plants,
and flowers all become a part of this escape.
Some
can also say that Olmsted’s design has made an impact on nature conservancy. The
simplistic beauty of the park emphasizes the importance of conserving the green
environment in this big city. He believed that design should conserve natural
features and provide for ecological health (Alexander, 2011). This has an
impact on the life of New York City because Olmsted reiterates the importance
of taking care of our natural habitat. It is evident through his simplistic
design that he does not want to overpower the landscape. Instead, he focuses
solely on complimenting the landscape.
Some consider Olmsted the father of
American landscape architecture. This is because he has introduced a new concept
in landscape architecture where he has integrated rural and urban existence. This
seemed fit because throughout mid-nineteenth century, urbanism and
industrialism was steadily increasing. This therefore, is another reason as to
how Olmsted’s design of Central Park, has impacted the life of New York City. His
designs recognized the need for city dwellers to keep nature at hand (“Olmsted-Designed
New York City Parks,” 2012). As said before, he based his designs on combining formal
and naturalistic settings. For example, Olmsted designed Central Park so that both
pedestrians and carriages can enjoy the park without disturbing each other. Another
example showing how Olmsted integrated rural and urban existence is the
creation of transverse roads that carry crosstown traffic below the park level.
This made it possible for traffic to cut across the park, causing no
distraction to the park experience. As part of the architectural plan, Olmsted
only wanted to include a maximum of four architectural structures in the park
in order to preserve the simplistic environment of the green space. He also
made sure to design the bridges of the park in a very simple manner so that it
complimented the landscapes of the park. This again, depicts the importance of
Olmsted’s designs in integrating urban and rural existence to the always evolving
New York City.
Olmsted’s design of Central Park has
had and will continue to have great impact on the life of New York City today.
The creation of Central Park is monumental in developing a place where everyone
is welcome. It is significant to the city of New York because it is a place to
escape and become friendly with nature. Olmsted’s design also portrayed the
importance of conservation. Lastly, his simple architectural style has also opened
new doors to landscape design where he integrated urban and rural existence.
Central Park has now become the backdrop of many activities such as, New Yorker’s
recreation, roller blading, fine dining at the Tavern on the Green, and free
performances of Shakespeare in the Park. Olmsted would be proud to see how
Central Park has evolved today.
References
Alexander, D. (2011,
May 23). Ten design lessons from Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of
American landscape architecture. Retrieved from http://37signals.com/svn/posts/2919-
Lane, J. (2012, July 12).
Frederick Law Olmsted. Retrieved from http://art-now-and-
Olmsted-Designed New
York City Parks. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.nycgov
Waxman, S. (2012). The
History of Central Park. Retrieved from http://www.ny.com
Wright, C. (2008). Blue
Guide New York. New York, NY: Blue Guides Limited.
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