New York City’s Central Park has already been a vital and well-loved green space for over a century. In the 1960s, it served as a backyard, a playground, and an escape for countless city residents and visitors. During the summer months of, its vast landscapes provided essential relief from the city’s heat and bustle. The diverse scenes of everyday life unfolding within its borders during that time were captured by photographers like Leonard McCombe for LIFE magazine.
An Urban Oasis
Stretching across 800 acres in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park offered a wide array of environments. Its carefully designed layout included sprawling open lawns, shaded woodlands intersected by winding paths, formal gardens, several ponds, and the large, man-made body of water known simply as The Lake. In the warmth and humidity of a New York summer in 1961, these green spaces provided a crucial escape and a place for outdoor recreation for people living in the dense city surrounding it.
On sunny summer days, the park’s great lawns, such as Sheep Meadow or the Great Lawn, were popular destinations. New Yorkers and tourists alike spread blankets on the grass, enjoying picnics, reading books brought from home, or simply relaxing under the shade of the park’s many trees. Benches lining the miles of pathways offered convenient spots for people to rest during a stroll, chat with friends, or quietly watch the world go by.
