Central Park Essay

I have decided to do this assignment on who designed Central Park in New York, NY. Two of the main architects were Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. “Central Park was the first urban landscaped park in the United States” (Waxman Par. 1). There was a contest for the design of the park and Olmsted and Vaux won, it was called the “Greensward Plan”. The construction of the park began in 1857 after years of debate on the design. When the plans were originally made Central Park was to span from 59th Street to 106th Street but was later expanded to 110th Street in 1863. Frederick Law Olmstead was born in Hartford, Connecticut and attended Yale University. After dropping out of college due to an eye ailment, he spent many of his early years in

“Olmstead was very impressed with the park he submitted a piece to Andrew J. Downing’s journal called “Horticulturalist” about the park and Downing published this piece” (“Olmsted-Designed New York City Parks” Par. 3). Downing recruited an English architect named Calvert Vaux to come to the United States and help with his landscaping business in Newburgh, New York. After Olmstead submitted his piece to Downing about the Birkenhead Park, Downing introduced Olmsted to Calvert Vaux. Downing passed away in 1852 and Vaux took over his landscaping business in 1856 after moving to New York City and began the design of Central Park. “Through a series of fortunate events Olmsted became a superintendent for the construction of Central Park in 1857” (“Olmsted-Designed New York City Parks” Par. 4). After the two had submitted their design called “Greensward Plan”, Olmsted was promoted to Chief Architect of Central Park. After the park was completed it was mainly used or visited by the wealthy people of New York. The park is located too far downtown for the working middle class to walk or even pay to ride the train to the park. After much controversy, the first playground was installed in