Central Park vs. Golden Gate Park (best, place, America, bigger)
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The two parks actually have some significant differences. Central Park is pretty much an urban park through and through, both within the park and on the streets around the park. Golden Gate Park has a planned gradient from a more developed and urban eastern part to a wilder, more open western park. It's sort of hard to imagine a herd of buffalo in Central Park (outside the zoo).
The parks are located in different parts of their city. Central Park starts at the edge of Midtown and moves up next to some of the highest density, highest income neighborhoods in the city (country). Golden Gate Park starts about midway across San Francisco, in moderately high density neighborhoods (compared to Manhattan) and goes out to the western edge of the city at the ocean. Golden Gate Park would have to start at Civic Center to be comparable, or you'd have to move Central Park up to Washington Heights and Inwood. Central Park's character is heavily shaped by the fact that it's so .... central.
Location: Baghdad by the Bay (San Francisco, California)
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If you told me I could only visit one of these two for the rest of my park-going life, I'd be happy, regardless of which one was chosen for me. Each is charming and alluring in its own way.
Central Park offers more of a contrast with its urban environment while Golden Gate Park's impact is lessened a bit visually by its spectacular environs. Still, both are oases of lush landscaping in dense urban environments. Central Park is engineered to be picturesque and doesn't disappoint. Golden Gate Park is more wild and naturally awe inspiring, with trees that seem otherworldly. CP is intertwined with its city and lives within its daily grind. GGP is more of an escape--less of a backyard to the City than CP is to NYC.
Both are incredible works of urban planning. Both are throwbacks to times when people valued both life balance and the simple beauty of their cities. Both were envisioned as statements of their cities' greatness.
CP is more lauded, in that its city needs it more than GGP's city needs it. CP is an island of sophistication, charm and beauty on an island of unforgiving urban crush. GGP is more of a grand garden--a place to celebrate fog rolling in or warm sunshine and swirly, chilly breezes, among flowers and towering trees. Both have diversions and world-class artworks on site. Both are healthy places to run, walk and meet people. Both inspire thoughts of a higher power's hand in their creation. Neither would or could be envisioned today. They are simply, masterpieces.
GGP has higher standards of natural beauty to live up to. It meets them with amazing attractions and a sensibility toward the picturesque that errs on the side of nature. CP has a heavier load to carry, buy lower standards of success in it expectations. It succeeds amazingly in framing perfect views of idyllic landscapes, just as designed. Different missions--both well accomplished.
Neither is "better" than the other. Both cities should be thankful they exist.
Last edited by dalparadise; 01-26-2013 at 12:55 AM..
i've lived in both cities - longer in nyc and the nyc metro area but i did spend a good 3 years in sf. i have to say, when i lived in sf i missed central park...when i moved back to ny i didn't miss gg park at all. gg park is nice and the japanese tea garden is beautiful, but the biggest advantage of central park is its accessability. it's a part of daily life to more new yorkers than gg park is for san franciscans.
1) location - its central location makes it the backyard for several densely populated neighborhoods. it's accessible to both east and west sides (which is probably the most significant "dividing line" in terms of public transit). north-south transit is a piece of cake...east-west can take longer despite shorter distances.
2) nyc's superior public transit makes central park way more easily accessible to anyone in manhattan without needing a car. let's be frank - it's a hassle to go hang out at gg park after work if you live in soma, lower pac heights, north beach, and much of the densely populated areas of sf.
3) the sidewalks running alongside the park are just awesome and lend themselves to many street musicians and artists who know there is a lot of foot traffic even in the evening.
gg park is a nice park by any means, but to most san franciscans...they have to make more of an effort to get there and make a whole trip out of it.
Last edited by bn1; 07-16-2013 at 02:42 PM..
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