By Gus Saltonstall
The Great Lawn in Central Park, located mid-park from 79th to 85th streets, reopened to the public this past weekend, following its closure due to the Global Citizen Festival at the end of September.
The green space was open to parkgoers on Saturday.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to enjoy this beloved park space,” a New York City Parks Department spokesperson told West Side Rag.
A large portion of the Great Lawn closed on September 22 in preparation for the Global Citizen Festival on September 28. Initially, the Parks Department said the lawn would reopen on October 2, but the entire space remained closed for 29 days until last Saturday.
In 2023, the Great Lawn was damaged on the day of the Global Citizen concert, when Tropical Storm Ophelia blew through the city and turned the grass to mud. As a result, the Great Lawn closed for the winter season about a month-and-a-half earlier than normal.
This year, Parks said it took significant steps to ensure the lawn’s preservation, including enhanced flooring during the concert, pre-seeding and conditioning, and designated protected areas.
New Yorkers will now have about three weeks to enjoy the Great Lawn, before it closes in mid-November for the winter season.
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This really has to stop.
BAN IT. The noise is a nightmare and far reaching for two solid days. It is incessant. It is cruel! We, all Upper West Siders impacted by this shocking, offensive, heartless and mind blowingly intrusive. And WE ARE GLOBAL CITIZENS What about OUR right to not be bombarded by days of ceaseless horrible thumpin? Hello???
Seeing that red flag in the picture made me think it would make a great golf practice driving range.
I’m generally ok with temporary park limited accessibility. Marathons will be an example of an inconvenience but they are great events in many senses.
Global Citizen though in my opinion is nothing but a celebrities and their wannabes’ show off. Nothing for the community, nothing for the park, nothing for the earth. Only egos on a loud display.
NOT TRUE!
Well, somebody better tell the Center Park Conservancy that they’re open because they were closed yesterday and the red flags are up!
Global Citizen Festival is a disgrace to our city park and should be banned!!!!!
A lot of disruptions for weeks, loud unwanted noise,
I really don’t want them here!
BAN THEM!
Love the photo, Carol. That huge expanse of green — so soothing to the eye. The Great Lawn is indeed great. (No comment on the annual desecration.)