South end
The South End runs from Central Park South to the Lake, just north of Terrace Drive 72nd Street.
Arsenal
A picturesque brick building that actually predates the park. It was built in 1851 to serve as a munitions supply depot for the New York State National Guard, and was designed to look like a medieval fortress, with battlements overlooking the area. Today the building holds a refreshment stand and WPA murals depicting park activities.
The reservoir
Safari Playground
A jungle themed playground with hippopotamus statues, a "canoe" play structure, and treehouses.
Wild West Playground
A western-themed playground with a wooded fortress-like setting, canals, sandboxes, and water sprays.
The Reservoir area spans the area of the park from the 86th Street Transverse Road to the 97th Street Transverse Road.
The Reservoir
Constructed between 1858 and 1862, the Reservoir is a vast urban lake that covers 106 acres of Central Park and is the largest body of water within Manhattan. Renamed the "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir" in 1994, the Reservoir is probably best known for the 1.58 mile track that runs around its edge and which is a favorite for joggers, who can both run and enjoy the spectacular views of the city skyline.
Great lawn
Ancient Playground
Inspired by the nearby Egyptian Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this playground contains several pyramid-like play structures.
Belvedere Castle
Sitting on Vista Rock, one of the highest points in the park, the castle provides excellent views of Central Park, particularly to the north. It is a popular spot for photography and contains a visitor center and a nature conservatory. Just below the castle to the north is Turtle Pond, a small, swamp-like pond holding various fish, frogs, insects, and birds.
Conservatory Pond
Most well known as the Model Boat Pond, visitors can often see a racing regatta between members of the Model Yacht Club, or rent a model boat from a boathouse and cafe on the pond. Just to the north of the pond is the Alice in Wonderland sculpture depicting the Tea Party scene, and on the west side of the pond is the Hans Christian Andersen sculpture, which shows the writer seated on a bench reading a book to his Ugly Ducking character.
Great Lawn
At the center of Central Park, the Great Lawn is a large clearing with lawns and ballfields, perfect for ballgames, sunbathing, and picnicking. Just to the east of the Lawn is the Obelisk, a 71-foot tall structure which is the oldest man-made object in the park, having been erected in Heliopolis, Egypt, around 1500 B.C.
The Lake
The lake is a fine setting for a serene afternoon in the park. Rental boats are available from the Loeb Boathouse on the eastern side of the lake for a ride on the water. The Bow Bridge, a Central Park landmark, spans the middle of the lake.
Pat Hoffman Friedman Playground
A small toddler playground with some beautifully fashioned gates adorned with sculptures of animals. In front of the gates stands Paul Manship's Group of Bears sculpture.
The Ramble
A sort of mini forest, described by its designer as a "wild garden," the Ramble is sculpted out of a wooded hillside, with winding paths, rocky outcrops, secluded glades, and a tumbling stream. The Ramble is also an excellent place to bird watch, with over 250 species of birds that stop here on their migration.
The Great Lawn area runs from the Lake to the 86th Street Transverse Road.
North end
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center
On the north shore of the Harlem Meer, the Discovery Center holds education and community programs and seasonal exhibits, as well as offering a popular place for catch-and-release fishing.
Conservatory Garden
A six-acre garden which is Central Park's only formal garden, representing Italian, French, and English landscape styles, with formal plantings and numerous sculptures.
The Pool
One of the most idyllic and tranquil landscapes in Central Park, the Pool is an excellent spot for quiet contemplation, with its grassy banks and nearby waterfalls. A stream, The Loch flows northeast from the Pool, through a stream valley called The Ravine. A trail that follows the Loch, winding under a canopy of tall trees as the stream goes over several waterfalls and passes under a couple of stone arches.
Great Hill
One of the highest points in the park, the Great Hill is a hilltop meadow surrounded by stately elm trees and serves as an excellent place to picnic.
Harlem Meer
This 11 acre lake is one of Central Park's finest spots; surrounded by flowering trees and inhabited by several fish and turtle species.
The North End spans the area of the park from the 97th Street Transverse Road to Central Park North.
Central Park is divided for convenience into four "quadrants". From south to north: