Did you know that Central Park has twenty named gates? These gates represent the professions and avocations of those who might use the facility. The Farmers Gate at the Lenox Avenue entrance to Central Park is one of these named entrances. Let’s explore its story.
The Farmers Gate is more than just an entrance. It is a tribute to the city’s diverse population. It reflects the intention of Central Park’s creators. They wanted the city’s premier greenspace to welcome all New Yorkers.
Back in 1862, the park commissioners carefully chose names for these entryways. They wanted to commemorate the occupations pursuits and attributes of all New Yorkers. It was a way to recognize each group’s contributions to the welfare of the city.
The idea of naming the gates came about as the park was nearing completion. The southern end of the park had assumed its final shape. 59th Street was becoming the primary border of access for the public.
Manhattan was still mostly rural in the mid-19th century. Society was shifting from an agrarian lifestyle to an urban industrial one. Recognizing farmers with the Farmers Gate was a nod to this transition.
The Farmers Gate stands at Central Park North and Malcolm X Boulevard. Central Park itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This gate helps define the park’s perimeter. It could have been a fancy gate or an extravagant plaza. However the humble designs of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won out.
The entryways should be named in accordance with a comprehensive plan. That would fully meet the every-day wants of the public. The construction of the Park has been easily achieved. The industrious population of New York has been wise enough to require it. To New Yorkers it belongs wholly. That was the motto.
The original gate names appear in the Park today. Most were inscribed by the Central Park Conservancy in early 2000. Sculptor Shi-Jia Chen chiseled the remaining names by hand into the stone walls. He had assistance from members of the Conservancy’s preservation team.
Central Park became a National Historic Landmark in 1963. The Conservancy was bringing the Park’s appearance more closely in line with Olmsted and Vaux’s original plan. That was to create a space representative of the whole people.
The Farmers Gate reminds us of the city’s past. It encourages us to reflect on how times have changed since these names were first selected. It stands as a tribute to the farmers. They helped shape New York City’s landscape and culture. It is a portal in time offering a fascinating window on the New York and world of that era.