Arches of Central Park Countinued |
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Not far from the entrance at the equestrian statue of General Sherman is an arch known as Green Gap. A walkway under the Drive comes from the Zoo and goes west towards Wollman Rink. Originally it was part of the bridle path under the arch, permitting entry and exit at the Scholar’s Gate, (Grand Army Plaza) Fifth Avenue and 60th Street. Green Gap’s underpass is 81 feet long, 25 feet wide and 13 feet 3 inches high. The facing of Green Gap is Alberta sandstone, from the quarry in New Brunswick, is set in ashlar that continues the outlines of the voussoirs. Posts of the parapet have in part been concealed by the soil of the planted slopes. The stonework of this archway, where specifically designed/measured and sent to the Stoneyard Co. be cut and shaped. Mould and Vaux drew up these specifications These drawings are in the Municipal Archives.
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Denesmouth Arch, built 1859-1860, among the earliest of Calvert Vaux’s bridges, supports the 65th Street Transverse road near Fifth Avenue and permits major north-south pedestrian traffic to pass under the arch between the Dene and the Central Park Zoo. It is the only arch in Central Park completely made of pale olive New Brunswick sandstone. It is blackened by years of exposure. It used to feature four ornate cast-iron lampposts but three were stolen and the 4th is in safekeeping somewhere. The arch is visually strengthened by the voussoirs, alternately long and short, fanning outward, spanning 37 feet 3 inches, with its top 14 feet above the path. Nearby, don’t miss the Delacorte Musical Clock Tower, featuring a bronze menagerie that plays a tune every half hour.
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Willowdell is a sandstone-and-brick arch located over park path east of the Mall west of about 67th Street. It was built in 1861 by Vaux and Mould and had an iron railing. It somewhat resembles Driprock Arch with its red-brick facing and sandstone trim. The archway has bench seating in the wall arcades. A center niche on the north side once contained a fountain, now broken. The idea of this particular arch was to give mothers a place to rest and relax with their children. Through the arch is a statue of Balto, the lead sled dog who transported diphtheria serum across Alaska in the winter of 1925.
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Along the park path, in line with 73rd & 74th street, and near the Boathouse and Central Park Lake lies the Trefoil Arch. “Trefoil” means a design that features 3 lobes like a Shamrock. This archway in Central Park is the only one that features a different design on each side. The side closest to the Lake has a round archway instead of a trefoil and plain blocks that make up the arch instead of the richly carved incisive floral pattern on the eastern side. Trefoil Arch is 15 feet 10 inches between abutments, with the highest point 11 feet 9 inches above the path. The underpass is 66 feet and the railing 110 feet long. A statue of Hans Christian Andersen stands nearby and if you continue along the path close to the lake you will see the massive Bethesda Fountain.
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Glade Arch is along park path just west of 5th Avenue and 79th Street. It was built in 1862 and made of New Brunswick sandstone. This is probably one of Vaux’s most deteriorated bridges over the years. Graffiti, crumbling and roots were some of the main culprits. The fence posts were wiped out by a snow plow in 1980. Then next year a complete renovation of the arch was done. The stone was washed, the destroyed parts of the balustrade were replaced and the coping was reset. Glade Arch measures 29 feet 6 inches across and is 10 feet high. The underpassage is 50 feet 7 inches, and the balustrade extends for 95 feet.
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Greywacke Arch is just south of the Obelisk and west of the Metropolitan Museum. The arch was built in 1861-1863. It was named for the material in which is was built, “Greywacke” which is a variety of sandstone obtained from the Hudson River Valley. The underpass is in red brick with white brick inserts. It has a horseshoe arch pointed at the top which is featured on both sides. Similar to some Spanish and Middle Eastern architecture. The years had also taken a toll on this arch and it was restored from 1983-1985. Thirteen of the original drawings remain, all by Jacob Wrey Mould. The span is 11 feet 3 inches high at its apex, and 18 feet 3 inches between abutments. The passage underneath is 56 feet long.
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Claremont Arch took the name of the Claremont Riding Academy at 175 West 89th Street. It was once the only surviving stable of the many that at one time surrounded the park. Claremont Arch is one of the later built arch’s as it was built in a part of the park that in the earlier days was less traveled. The arch was built as part of an access road to the West Drive. It was built in 1890 and its designer is unknown. It stands just inside the park to the north of the entrance. Equestrians often rode on top of this arch in order to access the bridle path, which ran along the West Drive here. It was the only entrance, with the bridle path a few feet beyond the Drive. The bridge has an arch approximately 8 feet high, 9 feet 4 inches wide, and 58 feet long. The parapet walls are about forty feet long The arch is made of Manhattan schist in rockface ashlar. As of April 30th, 2007 the Claremont Riding Academy has officially closed their doors. The Academy had survived for 115 years.
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Springbanks Arch is a shaped-stone and brick-masonry structure made of Hudson River Valley sandstone. It is located at the north flank of the North Meadow at the Loch at around 102nd Street. It was designed by Calvert Vaux, detailed by Jacob Wrey Mould and built 1862-63. Springbanks is among the not readily seen arch’s in Central Park. It passes under the bridle path at an inactive bit of the Drive once used as a link between the East and West Drives. Narrow and long with little headroom, the archway measures 17 feet 5 inches across, 9 feet 2 inches high and 71 feet long. It has been said that Springbanks resembles some of the archways in London’s Regent’s Park.
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Huddlestone is the most picturesque of all the archways in Central Park. Take park path under East Drive near the Lasker Rink at about 107th Street. A very different kind of arch created by Calvert Vaux. Not similar to his other arches in the park. Situated in a less utilized part of the park, it has the feeling of a country setting with a flowing stream making you feel somewhere far beyond the city. Huddlestone was created in 1866. The boulders used to create it were found throughout the park. Once placed together, the look of Huddlestone Arch appeared as if the boulders were naturally place. A stream, parallel to the footpath, runs through Huddlestone’s arch. The arch is 22 wide with a 10-foot high.
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Follow park path under East Drive as it intersects Central Park West and 110th Street. Mountcliff Arch was built to aid in the increasing population on the upper west side that wanted access to the park. It is a fairly large arch built in 1890 and made of gneiss and ashlar. Its size is 102 feet long and 48 feet high. Mountcliff arch is the parks’ highest arch. It also boasts a Tuscan arch 16 feet high and 21 feet wide. It is one of the last three constructed arches in the park.
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