Cd-W13 Exploring Central Park
Late 4 Week Class | Registration opens Saturday, August 1, 2026 12:00 AM
New York City’s Central Park is the second most visited tourist attraction in the United States (Times Square is #1). This man-made masterpiece of landscape architecture may be likened to the nation’s first theme park, with the theme being nature. In this course you will learn the history of the park: why and how it was created, who created it and for what purposes. We will then take virtual walking tours, using historic and contemporary photographs of the Park focusing on the southern, most often visited section. We’ll explore iconic places, see the statues and landscapes, and learn the stories behind them.
To best appreciate Central Park’s place in the history of the city, please watch (or re-watch) New York: A Documentary Film by Ric Burns. Released in 1999 (before the Twin Towers were attacked). Parts one and two are most relevant for this course. You can watch the videos free on YouTube, with annoying ads, or pay a fee to see them ad-free on Prime Video.
Alan Cohen
Alan Cohen is a retired school psychologist and college professor. A native New Yorker, he was a volunteer for the Central Park Conservancy, the private not-for-profit that has managed the Park since 1980. Alan served as an official tour guide for about 10 years, not only giving tours, but also developing new ones. In addition to his time with the Conservancy, Alan was a docent for the Museum of the City of New York and the Morris–Jumel Mansion in Upper Manhattan. Prior to his recent move to New Paltz, Alan was a docent and tour guide in Ithaca volunteering for the History Center of Tompkins County. For Alan, the Park was a place for a bike ride or a contemplative walk in the woods. It was also a place to explore his love of history, art, and the beauty of nature, real and curated. Alan collaborated with fellow Conservancy tour guide and photographer Harvey Kopel to produce Central Park People: A Photo Essay (available from the author). Many of Harvey’s photos will be used for this course.