Park Basics and Visitor Centers, Tours

Several entrances lead into the park.. You can enter from the east, west, south, and noth by paved pedestrian walkways, just off Fifth Avenue, Central Pa rk Noth (110th St.), Central Park West, and Central Park South (59th St.).

Four roads, or transverses, cut through the park from east to west--66th, 79th, 86th, and 96th streets. The East and West drives are both along the north-south axis; Center Drive enters the south edge of the park at Sixth Avenue and connects with East Drive around 66th Street.

Five Visitor Centers -- The Dairy (just south of the 66th St. transverse), Belvedere Castle (just north of the 79th Street transverse), the Chess & Checkers house (mid-park at 64th St.), and the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (at the top of the park at Central Park North)--have directions, park maps, event calendars, and volunteers who can guide you. Until a new restaurant opens in its place, the former Tavern on the Green (west side near 66th St.) is also serving as a visitor center, with food vendors as well.
TOURS
The Central Park Conservancy gives several different free walking tours of the park based on the season. Most tours are 60 to 90 minutes, and custom tours are also available. If you'd rather go it alone, the Conservancy also offers an audio guide you can follow on your cell phone. Each description is read by a different celebrity or NYC VIP. Dial 1(646)862-0997 then the extension that corresponds to each landmark and hit pound "#". for more information, see www.centralparknyc.org .