Picture this A sprawling green oasis in the heart of Manhattan. That’s Terrace Avenue Park. But this wasn’t always a place of leisure.
Terrace Avenue Park is not a separate park. It is part of Central Park. This magnificent space was once envisioned as an open-air hall of reception. Wealthy New Yorkers strolled its paths showing off their finest clothes. This was a grand promenade. It was a Victorian pastime.
The architects Calvert Vaux and Frederick Olmsted designed the Mall. The Mall terminated at The Terrace. This jaw-dropping two-level structure featured majestic staircases. These led down to the Esplanade. A refreshing fountain cooled the air in summer. The Arcade below the Terrace was adorned with Minton tiles. These were the first such tiles used for a ceiling. Intricate carvings decorated the Terrace. These were conceived by Jacob Wrey Mould. He was Calvert Vaux’s brilliant co-designer often overlooked. His work included full-relief figures sculpted in deep recesses.
The New York Times described The Mall as a beautiful walk. It was shaded by elms and flanked by velvety sward. The Terrace was a place of recreation with considerable architectural ornamentation. Pedestals at the head and foot of each stairway were intended for statuary and vases of living flowers. Carvings embellished the staircases. They illustrated Spring Summer Autumn and Winter.
The fountain’s centerpiece was The Angel of Water. This masterful bronze statue was added in 1871. The estimated cost of the fountain was $150.000. That is about $2.75 million today. The city spent $7.344 per acre for the 862-acre project.
In 1872 Manhattan’s wealthy thronged to Central Park. Church services were followed by promenades. Tens of thousands swarmed about enjoying the pure air. Mothers and fathers strolled with their children. Sweethearts were locked arm in arm. Young girls whispered comments on each other’s clothes. They giggled as young girls do.
The Arcade was used as an ice cream saloon. The Terrace was one of the most imposing structures in the grounds. The stonework featured exquisite carvings of birds animals and fruits.
By the turn of the century the terms Terrace and Esplanade were often used interchangeably. Victorian tastes gave way to 20th-century fashion. Jacob Wrey Mould’s glorious Terrace was less appreciated. Vandalism occurred. A gang of boys battered and disfigured the southeastern portion of the wall. They destroyed filigree carvings punched holes and knocked off animal heads. The frustrated Commissioner lamented his lack of police.
The second half of the 20th century was a dark time. Financial crises resulted in overgrown lawns and trash. The park was avoided. Muggers drug dealers and criminals took over. Vandalism continued. Heads of carved birds and figures were broken off. Architectural elements were smashed. Graffiti covered the walls.
In 1985 a $4.5 million restoration began. The Terrace was in an advanced state of decay. The landscape was barren slopes were devoid of grass. Erosion had pushed land onto the lower terrace. Carvings were missing. Birds were decapitated and de-winged.
The staircases were reset. Sculptors painstakingly recreated the missing pieces. In May 1987 the Terrace was reopened. Nearly three decades later it remains the heart of Central Park. Despite restoration the soft stone shows the abuse of weather and vandals. This is Terrace Avenue Park a testament to resilience and beauty.