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  1. Photograph: Virginia Rollison
    Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Central Park: The Mall

  2. Photograph: The Central Park Conservancy
    Photograph: The Central Park Conservancy

    Central Park: North Woods

  3. Photograph: Central Park Conservancy
    Photograph: Central Park Conservancy

    Central Park: Belvedere Castle

  4. Photograph: Courtesy of Central Park Conservancy
    Photograph: Courtesy of Central Park Conservancy

    Central Park: Friedsam Memorial Carousel

  5. Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher
    Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher

    Central Park: Snow monkey at the Central Park Zoo

  6. Central Park: Sea lion at the Central Park Zoo

  7. Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher
    Photograph: Julie Larsen Maher

    Central Park: Tisch Children's Zoo the Central Park Zoo

  8. Photograph: Courtesy Central Park Conservancy
    Photograph: Courtesy Central Park Conservancy

    Central Park: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center

  9. Photograph: City Parks Foundation
    Photograph: City Parks Foundation

    Central Park: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater

  10. Photograph: Gary Gershoff
    Photograph: Gary Gershoff

    Central Park: Victorian Gardens

     

     

  11. Photograph: Beth Levendis
    Photograph: Beth Levendis

    Central Park: Trump Wollman Rink

  12. Photograph: Gaby Dressler
    Photograph: Gaby Dressler

    Central Park: Ancient Playground

  13. Photograph: Lindsay Maclean Taylor
    Photograph: Lindsay Maclean Taylor

    Central Park: Billy Johnson Playground

  14. Photograph: Gaby Dressler
    Photograph: Gaby Dressler

    Central Park: East 72nd Street Playground

  15. Photograph: Lindsay Maclean Taylor
    Photograph: Lindsay Maclean Taylor

    Central Park: Heckscher Playground

  16. Central Park: Diana Ross Playground

     

  17. Photograph: Virginia Rollison
    Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Central Park: Bethesda Fountain

  18. Central Park: Conservatory Garden

  19. Central Park: Strawberry Fields

     

     

  20. Photograph: Sara Cedar Miller/Central Park Conservancy
    Photograph: Sara Cedar Miller/Central Park Conservancy

    Central Park: Alice in Wonderland Statue

  21. Central Park: Hans Christian Andersen Statue

  22. Photograph: Dominic Perri
    Photograph: Dominic Perri

    Central Park: Summer Stage Family Day

  23. Central Park: Harlem Meer Performance Festival

  24. Central Park: My Dog Loves Central Park Fair

  25. Photograph courtesy Central Park Conservancy
    Photograph courtesy Central Park Conservancy

    Central Park: Autumn

     

  26. Central Park: Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail

     

  27. Central Park: Holiday Lighting

     

     

  28. Photograph: Marielle Solan
    Photograph: Marielle Solan

    Central Park: Winter Jam 2013

  29. Central Park: Summer author reading

Central Park: Guide to family attractions, playgrounds and events

A complete guide to Central Park, including playgrounds and family attractions, from the carousel to the the Central Park Zoo.

Written by
Time Out Kids editors
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Even Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted would be astonished at the staying power of their 1860s creation, which is arguably the most beloved tourist attraction in New York City. A historic carousel, a small zoo with a separate, excellent petting zoo, and a beautiful ice-skating rink–cum–amusement park alone make Central Park worth a visit, and that’s just in its southernmost six blocks. Even for families on a strict budget, Central Park is a boon, sporting a fairy tale castle where kids can borrow a field kit, a nature center where they can practice catch-and-release fishing, treasured spots like Bethesda Fountain and the Egyptian obelisk, and some of the best playgrounds in the city, including one with a 45-foot marble slide that teaches kids that good things are worth waiting for. Best of all, though, Central Park offers city children a taste of the country, oxygenated air, countless trees and expansive grass lawns included.

RECOMMENDED: 50 best family attractions in NYC

How to support Central Park: You can help maintain the urban oasis by visiting centralparknyc.org.

Central Park information

Attractions in Central Park

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Best playgrounds in Central Park

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Central Park coverage

Other NYC parks

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