Whether you have a radio powered sailboat, or a wind-powered sloop, model sail boating in Central Park at the Conservatory Water is a delight for participants and observers; whether adults, children or, in one case, a rather notable rodent. Adding to the fun are the nearby statues of
Hans Christian Andersen, two of the most popular pieces of sculpture in the park. This fact is most easily attested to by the patina created by the many tiny hands that have run across the surfaces of both figures. The statue of the Danish writer is also the site of a popular storytelling program each summer.
Wollman Rink was built in 1949 and has been a success from the day it opened - over 300,000 skaters glided across the ice in its first year of operation. Ice skating in Central Park is easily one of the most picturesque activities to be enjoyed on a winter' s night. Unlike the somewhat overwhelming confines of the Rockefeller Center rink you can actually see stars at Wollman Rink. Feel the cold tingle of New York's crisp winter air, listen to the music, and take in the incomparable surroundings as you glide (gracefully or not so) over the ice. In the spring and summer the rink becomes home to the
Victorian Gardens amusement park, a beautiful evocation of a quaint country carnival with rides and attractions for the whole family.
The Imagine Mosaic in Central Park's Strawberry Fields is an internationally funded tribute to John Lennon, ex-Beatle and long time New York City resident. On December 8th, 1980 Mr. Lennon was shot dead as he entered his home at the Dakota Apartment Building at 72nd St. and Central Park West. John Lennon had taken many walks with his wife and young son through the friendly confines of nearby Central Park. Long a favorite son of his adopted city John Lennon wasn't simply New York's Beatle, he was, for many, the embodiment of the spirit on which city had been built. One half urbane cynic and one half romantic dreamer, he unabashedly embraced the disparate parts which, as every New Yorker knows, combine to form a uniquely gifted, passionate individual. And city. The Imagine Mosaic has become a gathering place for fans of Mr.Lennon from all over the world and it is here that you can almost always find someone strumming a guitar to the tune of one of his many song.
