Book description
Learn about the history of Central Park in New York with iMinds
Travel's insightful fast knowledge series. Central Park is a haven for
New Yorkers and a tourist s paradise. Nestled among some of the tallest
buildings in one of the most densely populated cities in the world,
Central Park stretches out, taking up 840 acres of prime real estate. It
is first and foremost an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Some may think the city was built around the park, but it is entirely
man-made, a tribute to modern architecture and landscaping. And it might
not exist today had the people of New York not fought for it for more
than 150 years. As early as 1844, there were calls by the poet William
Cullen Bryant and other prominent New York residents for a public park
in the marshy hinterland just north of the city proper. Bryant and
pre-eminent architect and landscape designer Andrew Jackson Downing led
the push for land to be put aside before it was entirely swallowed by
buildings. With public support they managed to get politicians on both
sides to agree to the idea. In 1856 the city bought most of the land the
park now sits on for 5 million dollars. That s about one hundred million
dollars in today s money! At the time, the land was mostly vacant
scrubland and rocky outcrops. It was also used as a garbage dump. When
the city acquired the land, surveyors and police were sent in to clear
the area; and this often meant ejecting squatters and their goats or
pigs!iMinds will tell you the story behind the place with its innovative
travel series, transporting the armchair traveller or getting you in the
mood for discover on route to your destination. iMinds brings targeted
knowledge to your eReading device with short information segments to
whet your mental appetite and broaden your mind. iMinds unique
fast-learning products have been praised in the Financial Times, Wired,
Vogue, Robb Report, Sky News, LA Times, Mashable and many others.. the
future of general knowledge acquisition. Learn about the history of
Central Park in New York with iMinds Travel's insightful fast knowledge
series. Central Park is a haven for New Yorkers and a tourist s
paradise. Nestled among some of the tallest buildings in one of the most
densely populated cities in the world, Central Park stretches out,
taking up 840 acres of prime real estate. It is first and foremost an
escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Some may think the city
was built around the park, but it is entirely man-made, a tribute to
modern architecture and landscaping. And it might not exist today had
the people of New York not fought for it for more than 150 years. As
early as 1844, there were calls by the poet William Cullen Bryant and
other prominent New York residents for a public park in the marshy
hinterland just north of the city proper. Bryant and pre-eminent
architect and landscape designer Andrew Jackson Downing led the push for
land to be put aside before it was entirely swallowed by buildings. With
public support they managed to get politicians on both sides to agree to
the idea. In 1856 the city bought most of the land the park now sits on
for 5 million dollars. That s about one hundred million dollars in today
s money! At the time, the land was mostly vacant scrubland and rocky
outcrops. It was also used as a garbage dump. When the city acquired the
land, surveyors and police were sent in to clear the area; and this
often meant ejecting squatters and their goats or pigs!iMinds will tell
you the story behind the place with its innovative travel series,
transporting the armchair traveller or getting you in the mood for
discover on route to your destination. iMinds brings targeted knowledge
to your eReading device with short information segments to whet your
mental appetite and broaden your mind. iMinds unique fast-learning
products have been praised in the Financial Times, Wired, Vogue, Robb
Report, Sky News, LA Times, Mashable and many others.. the future of
general knowledge acquisition.
