Fun, fast (ish) and fantastic exercise. Rollerblade in the summer, ice skate in the winter...very romantic! The trees of Central Park that border the rink provide the perfect frame for the high rise hotels and buildings around 5th Avenue.

ICE SKATING - Two rinks are open from November-March with day and night sessions. Most popular is Wollman Memorial Rink along the southern boundery within view of Plaza Hotel. While larger and less expensive than Rockefeller Center rink, it's VERY crowded. In summertime, it doubles as an outdoor roller skating rink also with a miniature golf course.

In the northern end off the 2/3-train 110th St. stop is Lasker Memorial rink which is least expensive, less crowded. It's also home of Harlem's youth hockey leagues.
* Both rinks have snack bar facilities. Admission and skate rental are seperate with fees annually creeping upward.

SWIMMING - The only public swimming pool is also at Lasker Memorial in the north. Admission is free; there's a mixed and interesting crowd. Swimming in natural bodies of water is prohibited.

VOLLEYBALL - Located on "Dead End Alley" between Sheep Meadow and The Mall, there's two asphalt and one sand court. Pick-up games are easy to get into. (Brazilians rule these courts!)

SNOW/WINTER - After a good coating of snow, Cross Country Skiers take to the Park everywhere. Sledding is also widely popular with the best/steepest hill on the north of The Ramble.

ROCK CLIMBING - Natural rocky terrain makes this a great activity, but those serious about their skills head for the northern sections scaling cliffs/rocks along the loop and also walls of the War of 1812 blockade. A good indicator of what/where are the white chalk hand prints!

FISHING - The Harlem Meer-Lake on the northern end issues free fishing poles/lines/hooks with doughball bait for those who don't have their own. It's great for kids; they can actually catch abundant smaller fish, too.

LAWN BOWLING - Definitely only for spectators, this long-standing league of lawn bowlers can be found on the greens north of Sheep Meadow just off the loop.

TENNIS - A large complex of newly refurbished courts are in the South Meadow just NW of the reservoir.

TEAM SPORTS - Softball/Baseball is by far the largest organized sport within the Park on clusters of fields in the southern Hecksher Ballfields, Great Lawn, and North Meadow which has larger diamonds and hosts local Hispanic adult/youth league competition. Soccer is mostly found on/around East Meadow with the Central American population; pick-up games available. Basketball courts are on the NW corner of the Great Lawn and at the North Meadow security center.

While it would seem there's something going on everywhere you look, I'll list some of the key spots for recreation enjoyment as a participant or spectator:

JOGGING - The NY Roadrunners Club have an information kiosk at the 5th Ave./89th St. entrance which is also a good place for locating the mile-half+ "natural" course circling the reservoir which is rather well lit, basically safe, and heavily used at all "decent" hours. Die-hards use the asphalt thoroughfare which loops around the Park and, by detected use, would appear safer for late-night runners. This circular route is closed to traffic except a.m./p.m. weekday rush hours. Jogging/biking lanes are marked, often crowded. Those in town the first weekend of November, the finish line for NYC's Marathon is across from Tavern on the Green.

ROLLERBLADING/SKATING - This popular mode of transportation/recreation is purposefully, leisurely everywhere. Competitive/skilled in-line skating takes place on the loop near Tavern on the Green. Weekend Street Skates along Dead End Alley have long been a popular attraction. Chances are you'll see the crowds and hear music long before you realize what's going on as people of all ages, races, social statuses "get busy" to the thumpin' beat displaying skills that can keep you watching for hours. The second most popular area is the nearby courtyard at Naumberg Bandshell. There's no music, but performances just as impressive including those "grinding" on benches or taking Bethesda Terrace stairs backwards.

BICYCLING/RENTALS - Bicycling is popular around the loop and for those lesser inclined, riding basically anywhere you'd like. Standard bicycles can be rented in the parking lot in front of Loeb Boathouse. If you've access to mountain/all-terrain bikes, challenges await in The Ramble and northern areas.

*Joggers/skaters/bikers MUST SHARE THE ROAD! Countless accidents occur daily from those not paying attention. You also run potentially greater risk of inflicted injury from the person you cluelessly hit than the accident itself...or at least a good tongue lashing!

BOATING - As seen in many movies, you too can seasonally rent a rowboat behind Loeb Boathouse to skim across the pond for hefty rate and limited time. The Boathouse restaurant also offers seasonal gondola rides complete with Venetian oarsmen and song. Remote controlled boating takes place at Water Conservatory downhill from the 5th Ave./72nd St. entrance.

HORSEBACK RIDING - Bridle pathes are obviously scatterd about the western, central and northern parts. Where you get the horse, I've no clue!

If you're one who considers Central Park's daytime safety questionable, ignore this entry lest you set yourself up as a potential target since people can/do read each other just as animals perceive us - they sense uncertainty,...you know the rest. But for others, here's revelations for enjoying sites once the sun has gone down just as you might be suprised to see so many others doing despite how brave yet foolish you find them.

One of my favorites comes at dusk around the Harlem Meer...though any body of water will do. The sky's sunset pallet provides an excellent background for all the buildings which tower over the trees lining the Park walls. As if this site isn't inspiring enough, you'll get a double dose with reflections on the water...sometimes shimmering from a fallen leaf or passing mallard. There's nothing better for clearing your mind as your day "reflects" are soothed from the beautiful reflections.

The numbers of people out and about in southern sections of the Park up to 72nd St. might have you wondering if these people ever go home whether a large group of rowdy revelers on the plaza or a lone skater with walkman in hand practicing their moves under a street lamp. This is the most developed area and closest to midtown which brings safety in numbers from/for both locals AND tourists alike.

If you're curious yet still somewhat skiddish, I highly recommend taking a horse-drawn carriage ride which departs from the 59th St./6th Ave. entrance to at least sense the magical feeling of escaping to this haven while the "now lit-up" buildings are looming all around...ready to engulf you the second you step outside the boundaries. If on foot, you definitely won't/shouldn't miss a walk-through of the year-round highly lighted and decorated courtyard of Tavern on the Green, or a stroll down The Mall/Promenade - especially in the fall when leaves are still randomly trickling down from gentle breezes. Most areas are very well lit though there's plenty of darkness should you choose to stop and steal a kiss or moment together.

Romance is certainly in the air...and a lot of other related mischief and then some even aside from the safety issues. Exposure of the "exposed" is inevitable after dark and comes with the territories...kind of like the air that's just there. I've stumbled across "beyond bizarre" especially when combing areas looking for my Youth Center kids gone AWOL. Without specific cause, avoid most areas north of 72nd St. unless you're running short of drugs or peep show tokens.

"Headline Crimes" are not exclusive to nightly hours though a 1:00 a.m. park closing curfew is enforced best can be. Working with the local precinct on youth-related issues has given me an inside track to info and experiences with the Park; especially in the springtime when large packs of uptown kids invade the Park at night on mostly stolen bicycles reeking havoc and high speeds on the roads clocked at 40+ mph.

Aside from two-legged wildlife critters, Central Park has an amzaing variety of flora and fauna that' enough to even catch a city dweller's undeducated attention when it comes to nature. From the beginning of construction according to Olmstead and Vaux's "Greensward Plan", uninterrupted scenic/natural vistas were their main objectives - which included 40,000 cubic yards of compost and manure used on the 270,000 trees and shrubs planted within the first five years.

In 1982, there were 147 different kinds of trees (not counting saplings) accounting for 24,595 trees within the Park. Pay close enough attention - you'll come across some of the obscure indentifying markers giving brief descriptions on what kinds they are.

"Tree Poaching is a legitimate concern for Park officials as it's believed an average of 20 large trees a year are quickly, quietly chopped down, cut up and sold for firewood. If you want the real "bark" on trees, speak with park employee Bob Redman...a once illusive teenager who was tracked by park employees during an 8-year period for illusively constructing/living in 13 different treehouses in the densest northern sections. Once caught, living in a 5-room split level model, his love/knowledge for trees landed him on the payroll.

As for fauna, 238 species of birds have been found in Central Park including the Snowy Owl and Bald Eagle. The Park is a bird watcher's paradise and the most popular sightings take place in The Ramble; a highly controversial area often pitting city officials against bird watchers from efforts to rid/clean up the area's "other" attractions by culling out the vegetative thickness which attracts birds but also conceals susupect activity. Let's just say you'll likely see more than birds through your binoculars!

To no suprise, pidgeons and brown norway rats top their respective categories followed closely by a thriving mallard and squirrel population. A pair of swans have nested on the Boat Pond for years; their "ugly duckling" young transforming into regal beauties before moving on.

If you're in the Park at dusk or beyond, don't be surprised to see VERY LARGE raccoons brazenly roaming around foraging for food. Perhaps you remember recent headlines about the roving coyote found within the woods. This perceived savage beast - likely dumped-off house pet was definitely out of it's element just as you might end up feeling on the Park's "perceived" survival of the fittest food/prey chain; something daily played out around the waters where pidgeons, seagulls, ducks, geese and song birds compete and outwit each other for bread crumbs "illegally" fed by park goers. Signs say, "Don't Feed The Wildlife", but...

FAST FACTS In 1890, 80 starlings were imported from Europe and released in Central Park spawning the country's obnoxious population we've today. The English Sparrow also originated in the U.S. from here.

Entering the 20th century, two giant Sequoia trees were still thriving near Cherry Hill.

Free guided nature tours can be arranged at The Dairy in the south or Dana Discovery Center in the north.