Bryant Park, the backyard of the New York Public Library's Fifth Avenue Branch, is one of the most popular urban parks in the world. Most recently, the Park's management has expanded family programming and activities. In addition to the beautiful lawn, seasonal opportunities include chess, backgammon, ping pong, soccer, yoga, and juggling. Recently WiFi has been added, and the Library stocks material for visitors in an open-air reading room.
The surrounding neighborhood architecture, 2700 beautiful lawn chairs imported from Thoissey, France, and on-site cafes offer inspiration and dining to visual artists and photographers. Music, dance, and film are presented seasonally. In the winter, the 10-acre Park becomes a wonderland reminiscent of New York's Crystal Palace as corporate support transforms the lawn into a skating rink for the public.
Petanque by La Boule New Yorkaise
In continuing the French theme to the park's playing fields, Bryant Park offers Petanque, a ball game that is similar to Bocce though Petanque involves tossing the balls rather than rolling them. Bryant Park's Petanque courts are the home of a competitive club, La Boule New Yorkaise, which has frequently sent 3-person teams to the men's World Championships in the sport, and women players from Bryant Park have also represented the United States at the Women's World Championships. No tickets required to watch the best players at this park! Try it yourself on an open field.
Le Carrousel
The Bryant Park carousel is not your ordinary merry-go-round. Its name and painted decor continue the park's Francophile theme, but the attraction was crafted by Fabricon Corporation in America--Brooklyn, to be exact, where, according to Glenn Collins (2002) the world-reknowned "Coney-Island-Style" was created. Step back in time with a visit to a Bryant Park landmark, La Carrousel, a tribute to the best of American carousel born in the 1890s. Brooklyn was once the capital of American carousel manufacture, so Fabricon founder, Marvin Sylvor, wanted to locate his factory there. Sylvor has installed more than 60 carousels globally, including world destinations from Bolivia to Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Sylvor also worked on a carousel with artist Red Grooms to be placed in his hometown, Nashville.
The Victorian-looking ticket booth at the carousel is actually a refurbished 1928 model that was once installed in Hull, Massachusetts. Lukas Alpert reports that the intimacy of this 18-person capacity ride is enhanced by its lovely garden-like paintings, mirrored inner panels, and the quaint French soundtrack, which features the song, "La Vie en Rose." Memories of Josephine Baker occur to many spectators enjoying the awe of the children.
Presiding over Le Carrousel is a statue of Johann Wolfgang von G oethe, one of a number of literary figures whose statues populate the park, including Gertrude Stein and William Cullen Bryant. Goethe's passionate celebration of emotions makes him a fitting overseer for the romanticism of Le Carrousel.
The New York Public Library
What visit to this destination would be complete without a visit to this inspiring branch of the library? Anchoring Bryant Park, the French style is announced by the Beaux-Arts designed library by Carriere and Hastings, built on what was once the Croton Reservoir. A special treat for families involves climbing on the library lions, two regal statues on the far side of the building. Since 1911, Named Patience and Fortitude by Mayor Laguardia in 1930, the sculptures by Edward Clark Potter have greeted all visitors to "knowledge central" in New York City.
A walk in the park is always a possibility. The activities are so inviting that your family won't sit still for long. To plan before you go, check the website's interactive map and audio tour.
Sources
- Collins, Glenn. "Lions Out Front, and Now Ponies for the Backyard." The New York Times. 4 April 2002. Accessed online 27 August 2011.
- Alpert, Lukas I. "Rounding up young, old fans, carousel enlivens an old park."
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