Great Lawn and Turtle Pond, Recreational lawn in Central Park, Manhattan, United States
The Great Lawn is a large open grass area in Central Park stretching between 79th and 85th Streets, containing multiple sports facilities and a nearby pond. The space includes eight baseball fields, basketball courts, and wide areas of grass available for casual use.
The site was originally the Yorkville Reservoir, which began storing drinking water for New York in 1842. During the 1930s, the reservoir was drained and converted into parkland.
The Great Lawn serves as a venue for major musical performances by the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera, drawing thousands of people for open-air concerts. This space functions as a gathering place where New Yorkers experience cultural events together outdoors.
Organized sports activities on the fields require permits, but the open grass areas are free to use for picnics and casual activities. The space is accessible on foot and offers plenty of room to spread out.
The adjacent pond is home to five turtle species, including red-eared sliders, snapping turtles, and box turtles. This variety of reptiles often surprises visitors who discover them while exploring the water's edge.
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