A nature sanctuary that had been completely closed for decades is open every day this spring, according to the Central Park Conservancy.
The Hallett Sanctuary, a four acre parcel in the Southeast portion of Central Park, is open daily from 10 a.m. until 30 minutes before sunset. No dogs, bicycles, or strollers are permitted.
There are also tours of the area that cost $15.
It was closed by Robert Moses in 1934 so it could become a bird sanctuary. The conservancy opened it to very limited use in 2013, and has been allowing more people in in the past few months.
The sanctuary is located just South of Wollman Rink, around 60th to 62nd street toward the East side of the park.
Since the Hallett Sanctuary IS just off Fifth Ave. and in the HIGH-RENT VERY UPSCALE “Lower East 60’s” one (or more) can only hope that its many nooks-and-crannies (not to mention the crooks-and-nannies) will attract a better class of muggers.
🙂
I was in the Hallett Sanctuary in October and found it lovely.
Why “No dogs, bicycles, or strollers are permitted.” ?
Um, because it’s a bird sanctuary?
Definition: A quiet place for birds to live, nest and breed without being disturbed or harmed by careless humans or canine predators.
Central Park has miles of pathways and features that welcome bikers, babies and pooches.
A few acres reserved for the birds isn’t a hardship for any of the above.
I have no problem w/ a dog-less bird sanctuary. But just for the record, dogs are not “predators” of birds — of cats, yeah, sometimes, but not birds. Predators of birds are cats.
Looks gneiss !