Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
When Central Park's Walls Come Tumblin' Down
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 15, 2008
Modified Jun 16, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 15, 2008
Modified Jun 16, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Recently Metro examined the neglected transverse walls of Central Park. The transverses, the sunken crosstown roads designed by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, "cut from schist, leaving rock outcroppings or stones set in rough-hewn walls" are crumbling before our eyes.
The walls, noted as "neglected and abused" in a 1989 Times Article, have had loose rocks fall onto 97th Street, so a company was dispatched to remedy the problem. However, community members found that a contractor was tearing down sections of the rock walls. Preservationists are rarely happy with piles of rubble, but an engineer estimated a full collapse of the walls being just "a winter or two away." The walls are under the jurisdiction of three city agencies, the Parks Department, Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection, which apparently contributes to lack of attention to the roads.
Last week city officials met with some of the preservationists to discuss the walls, and Metro reported back saying that promises were made to plant vegetation and "regroup before deciding how to restore the demolished walls." However, questions were raised about where the money would come from for preservation. Perhaps the Central Park Conservancy?
Photo via Metro.
Tagged
central park
preservation
rocks
wall
walls
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .