Washington Park - Albany, NY - Home of the Tulip Festival

Washington Park is located at the juncture of Madison Avenue and Willet Street in Albany, New York. It is an urban park, and it is the host of the annual Tulip Festival. The Tulip Festival is a tribute to the Dutch history of Albany. Albany is the oldest Dutch settlement in the United States. The Tulip Festival normally takes place in May. The event typically features over 100 different types of tulips. The total number of tulips present at the festival is normally over 200,000. The Tulip Festival has been held for over 60 years.

The park is part of the Washington Park Historic District. In 1972, the Washington Park Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The land that the park is on was originally given by the Crown to the city of Albany in colonial times. Prior to its current use as a park, the area had been used as a cemetery, a parade ground, a welfare farm, and a public square. Work began on turning the area into a park shortly after the Civil War.

The pattern of the park comes from Frederick Law Olmsted's designs. Olmsted is the individual that designed Central Park in New York and Mont Royal Park in Montreal. Washington Park is landscaped in the Victorian tradition and is a combination of gardens and landscaped lawn. Washington Park is home to approximately 100 species of trees, and the area resembles a botanical garden in many ways. Bonsai trees and gigantic oak trees are just two examples of the types of species of trees that are found in the park.

The park consists of 84 acres and is filled with flower beds. In addition, there are both bicycle paths and foot paths located throughout the park. The park features several towering monuments, and visitors also have access to tennis courts.

Washington Park is home to Washington Park Lake. Washington Park Lake is located at the center of the park. The foot bridge associated with the lake is the only structure that remains of the original park. This foot bridge was installed in 1875. The foot bridge was designed by T. J. Sullivan, and gas lamps were originally used to light the footbridge until 1881, which is when they were converted to electric lights. The foot bridge is made of stone.

The lake is stocked with fish in the summer, so it is a popular fishing destination. In the winter, ice skating is permitted on the lake. The park is also home to the Lakehouse. The Lakehouse is a structure that has a band shell. The Lakehouse is used for recreational, civic, and cultural activities. For example, the Lakehouse is used for the Washington Park Concert Series and Park Playhouse as well as a variety of other activities.

In addition, Washington Park is home to a playground area for children. The park features several other special events besides the Tulip Festival. Some of these events have included holiday light displays, various concert series, an annual Lobster Fest, and more.

Additional information about Washington Park and its special events can be obtained by calling 518-434-2032.