Interactive Fun in the Park

While what my friend and my cousin are doing in the park would be counter to what Olmsted and Vaux intentended for the park—a non interactive park that would allow people to appreciate and treat nature—both of these people are exploring their authentic self by interacting with the park which reflects their own personality. 

I hardly think that Olmsted and Vaux would agree with the interactive experience of the row boats on the lake in front of the Bethesda Terrace, but the row boats are my favorite thing to do in Central Park. Usually the row boats to me are more reflective and conversational with just one other person and I, but in this instance we had multiple people which changed the experience for me. 

Despite Olmsted and Vaux’s fears of people interacting with the park and then destroying the natural landscape, modern use of the park shows that with a little care and direction in the form of little fences, little walls, or well placed flowers, Park goers stick to the public spaces dedicated to the interactive events of the park such as the row boats, the great field, the children’s parks, etc.