19 Things To Do In Central Park: Things You’d Never Thought Of!

Central Park is an iconic oasis in the heart of New York City, and nearly all visitors, expats, and locals head over to break the stress of bustling city life. Although, you can’t come to NYC and not visit Central Park. It’s practically sinful to do that.  Even if you visit in the dead of winter, it’s still a magical place.

With its 3.41 square kilometer of area, you barely scratch the surface with one or two visits. I believe, upon every visit, there’s something new to discover and endless things to do in Central Park. Here are 11 things to do in Central Park, New York, things you didn’t even imagine of doing here!

Also, did you know that you can climb (bouldering) in Central Park? I went there with my kids and had a great time, take a look at my post about it.

19 Things To Do In Central Park NYC

The list of what there is to do with your kids in this park is endless! However, the top ones, not to be missed are:

Picnic In The Sheep Meadow

This is the large field in the southwest corner, where you can simply hang out, throw around a frisbee, run around, and do a million other things.  FYI: the reason it’s called sheep meadow, is that when it first opened this part of the park was a pasture for sheep. It’s a great place to enjoy, relax, play, and picnic along with family and kids.

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Bird Watching 

It is home both to native species and exotic birds that pass through during their migration. In fact, there are over 288 bird species that have been seen in the park since its creation. Among them, there are resident and migratory birds, such as sparrows, robins, cardinals, woodpeckers, hawks, owls, and warblers. The park’s lush greenery and many secluded spots make it an ideal location for birds to nest and lay their eggs.

See The Turtles in Turtle Pond

Turtle Pond is a small, tranquil pond near Belvedere Castle and is the chill-out place for all sorts of turtles, red-eared sliders, painted turtles, and snapping turtles. You can observe them swimming and sunbathing from the pond’s shore or the wooden bridge in the middle. Turtle Pond is also a great place to see and snap pictures of other small wildlife like ducks, geese, and herons.

Check Out The Obelisk (Cleopatra’s Needle)

The Obelisk, or Cleopatra’s Needle, is an ancient Egyptian monument that is 3,500 years old and located next to the exhibition. Two more identical obelisks were installed in the city of Heliopolis, but the Romans transported them to Alexandria . In 1881, the ruler of Egypt Khedive gave the Obelisk to the United States, and they brought the gift to New York on a high seas. The main park attraction is considered the oldest artificial object and is an exciting piece of history . You can only walk past the Obelisk, take pictures, enjoy the view and detail of the hieroglyphs.

Concerts & Music

A summer activity that decently ranges from classical to rock. Some of the most popular venues that the park has to offer: Summer Stage – Free Performances for All Types of Music Fans, Naumburg Bandshell – A More Classical Touch, Sandbox Programs – Fun for the Little Ones, Impromptu Music for Summertime Strolls.

Shakespeare In The Park

Shakespeare in the Park is a free annual event that takes place in the Delacorte Theater located in the Northern Central Park. The program was established in 1962 by Joseph Papp and soon became a New York tradition. Many celebrities, including Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, and Al Pacino, have performed there. The tickets are given on a lottery basis, online or in the morning before the show.

Running In Central Park 

The famous New York Marathon has its final miles in Central Park every year. The site of the New York Marathon’s final 3.2 miles, Central Park offers many scenic distractions while providing a challenge to all levels of runners.

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Walk (or Cycle) Down The Mall

The Mall is a broad, tree-shaded walkway that runs through the core of the park . It is often called the Literary Walk since it is flanked by life-size sculptures of popular wordsmiths and lyricists. The Mall is a wonderful and historic place to take a walk, examine the art, and hear the street musicians. You can likewise rent a bike from one of the numerous sellers about the park and ride the Mall.

Play Beach Volleyball At The North Meadow

If you are a pro athlete or maybe a beginner, then for some fun and exercise during your Central Park, NYC, visit, I would recommend participating in the game of beach volleyball at the North Meadow. There are 12 sand courts available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. You can swiftly sign up for lessons, leagues, and tournaments at the North Meadow Recreation Center. Beach volleyball is genuinely a great way to meet new people and enjoy the sun!

Visit The Central Park Zoo 

In terms of area, it is a rather small zoo, but it presents a wonderful time for both adults and children. Indeed, New York Zoo started in the 1860s as a menagerie, which apparently signifies that it is the first official zoo in the city. Meanwhile, it also becomes one of the places that exhibit a snow leopard; moreover, you can find multiple other animals there: penguins, sea lions, and red pandas. Central Park Zoo works all year round and it costs 19.55 dollars for adults and 14.95 dollars for kids to enter.

Go Fishing At The Harlem Meer

Yep, you can fish here. It’s catch-and-release, but the fun still is the same. You can borrow a rod and bait for free and fish year-round at Harlem Meer. It is a prevailing spot for fishing, as it is stocked with fish such as bass, carp, and catfish.

Climb The Statues In The Park

Central Park has many statues and sculptures that are fun and interactive for children and adults alike. The two extremely famous statues are located here: Alice in Wonderland and Balto. Both are perfect for climbing all over and letting the kids enjoy them.

Rent A Row Boat At The Loeb Boathouse

Rent a row boat and spend the afternoon on the pond. Boat rentals are provided at the Loeb Boathouse. This will be a romantic activity, especially if you and your girlfriend travel together. The pond is very beautiful, and the city’s view is no less beautiful. Rents cost $15 and are charged per hour. You can rent row boats from April to October.

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Play at the Playgrounds in the Park

Particularly, Central Park is known not only to have tons of playgrounds all over the park, but some are so unique your kids will think they are climbing around real Egyptian pyramids near the Met. There are a total of 21 playgrounds, all are well-cleaned and safe.

Better yet, each playground boasts its unique theme and amenities including slides, swings, sand design, climbing equipment, water installations, and other features. The most sought-after playgrounds include the Ancient Playground that mirrors the Egyptian art present in the neighboring Metropolitan Museum of Art, Heckscher Playground for being the park’s biggest and most historic site, and Diana Ross Playground, financed by the singer of the same name .

Ice Skating

Another stereotypical winter activity in Central Park is ice skating. There are only two options to choose from – the Wollman Rink, which is situated at the south end of the park and has a very interesting history. Sitting around over 12 years of promises to have it done, Donald Trump took it in his own hands and within a few short months has brought this rink to life. The second rink is Lasker Rink, which is at the north end of the park and usually less crowded and cheaper.

Pay Tribute To John Lennon At The Strawberry Fields

On October 9, 1985, which would have been John Lennon’s 45th birthday, Yoko Ono and Ed Koch, ex-mayor of NYC, five years after his murder, dedicated this area as a memorial to him. The entrance is at W 72nd St. where he lives at Dakota house. It’s basically just a huge 2.5-acre area in Central Park. At the heart of Strawberry Fields is the Imagine mosaic, which spells out the title of Lennon’s famous song. People from all over the world come to Strawberry Fields to honor Lennon, especially on his birthday October 9, and the anniversary of his death December 8.

Bethesda Fountain

Bethesda is the angel of water, and this fountain was erected after NYC finally got a proper water treatment in 1842 and freshwater started flowing to NYC. This angel also has four cherubs, standing for health, peace, purity, and temperance. Bethesda Fountain is used to compose music alongside taking wedding pictures.

Center Of Manhattan 

This is the exact center point of Manhattan Island. This is a great spot to take a break and have a picnic on one of the many benches nearby. From this spot, you can see all around the park and admire its beauty and vastness.

Stroll Along The Literary Walk & The Mall

It is the only straight walkway in Central Park, lined with three different types of iconography, but one: Literary. The southern part is called Literary Walk from statues of Shakespeare, Burns, Scott, and Halleck. The northern part of the walkway is called the Mall because people walk and sit on the sides to view the trees and scenery. The Mall is also known for its American elm trees, which form a canopy over the path.

How To Do A Tour Of Central Park

• Walking around on your own or a guided tour of Central Park 
• Biking Central Park – either on your own or with a guide
• Pedicab Tours – this is what we did
• Horse Drawn Carriage tours

After a lot of deliberation, we decided to do a Pedicab Tour with Central Park Tours, and it was so worth every penny.  With a guided tour, whatever your choice would be, you simply get the full scope of what this park is all about. Unlike many central parks in the world, Central Park in Manhattan can fill volumes with its history, all the amazing activities it has, and the different attractions for the whole family.

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History of Central Park NYC

• Central Park was the first landscaped public park in the United States.
• Advocates of creating the park – primarily wealthy merchants and landowners admired the public grounds of London and Paris and urged that New York needed a comparable park to establish its own international reputation.
• An irregular terrain of swamps and bluffs, punctuated by rocky outcroppings, made the land between Fifth and Eighth avenues and 59th and 106th streets undesirable for private development, but it was perfect for a park.
• In 1857, the Central Park Commission held the country’s first landscape design contest and selected the “Greensward Plan,” submitted by Frederick Law Olmsted
• The building of Central Park was one of nineteenth-century New York’s most massive public works projects.
• Workers moved nearly 3 million cubic yards of soil and planted more than 270,000 trees and shrubs.
• The park first opened for public use in the winter of 1859
• The Zoo, first given permanent quarters in 1871, quickly became the park’s most popular feature.
• Trees and benches: More than 26,000 trees and nearly 9,000 benches.
• Visitors: 25 million annually.
• Bridges and arches: 36

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Last Updated on June 24, 2025