Nature in NYC

Over the summer, I took a business trip to New York City. As I left for this trip, I did not imagine I would go sight seeing or explore the city, as I was traveling alone and working all day. Luckily for me, one evening I got off work early and decided to make the three mile trek from my hotel to Central Park. I am not exactly sure why I chose to do this, but I am sure glad I did. 

While many of the writers we have discussed this semester focus on preservation, I actually think they would appreciate the beauty Central Park holds as it gives NYC a huge chance to experience nature in a concrete jungle of a city. That is what I felt when I arrived at the park. I felt relieved to see such a beautiful piece of nature in the midst of so much chaos and construction. As I continued on my walk, I payed close attention to the nature present in the park, if it was groomed or unkept, and what kind of people hung out here. I noticed that there are areas that are both kept well and unkept. There are flower beds and cut grasses, but there are also long grass areas and trees that are completely arching over. 

       

When looking at the people, I noticed every type of person imaginable. There were kids with their parents, teenagers hanging out together, true nature enthusiasts, business men in suits sitting on the benches, and everything else in between. I think the array of people shows that this park and its nature are special to the people of this city. Even as I walked through it, I felt as if I was somewhere completely new and forgot momentarily I was in the big city. I view this park as an escape for the people of NYC. This is a place they can come and appreciate the trees and the grass when there is no other place to do so in the city. I think it must be therapeutic and calming for those who live here, and the nature in this park is astonishing. 

That being said, another thing I found interesting was that you are never fully submerged in the nature, because while Central Park is big, the city is bigger.  Every way you turned, you could see the sky scrapers peering through the trees, reminding you that you were surrounded by concrete. 

               

After this walk, I will think of Central Park as one of my new favorite places now. There was something so relieving about seeing the aspects of nature in this park after being within the city for a few days. I appreciated the nature more and felt myself gravitating towards it, as if I never wanted to leave the park.