Bow Bridge in Central Park Reopens After Repairs: See It

By Gus Saltonstall

Bow Bridge, one of Central Park’s most iconic locations, reopened to the public this week after a month and a half of repair work.

The graceful curve used as a walkway to the Ramble near West 73rd Street and a connection to a path toward Bethesda Terrace, shuttered for repairs at the end of November.

“Our Central Park Conservancy team has been working hard to replace the wood decking of Bow Bridge due to the wear-and-tear it receives from the public,” the Conservancy wrote Wednesday on X. “Today, we’re thrilled to announce that this masterpiece of Victorian-era design is now open for your enjoyment!”

Here is specifically what the Conservancy, the nonprofit that oversees the famous park’s maintenance, did with the bridge restoration.

• Replaced the existing deck with new wood that is harder and more durable.
• Mechanically scraped and painted several beams under the deck to stabilize and protect them from future corrosion.
• Used historic photographs to identify the number of planks and decking size for the bridge floor.

Here’s what the bridge looked like during and after the process.

Bow Bridge was constructed in 1862 by Calvert Vaux, who was one of Central Park’s designers along with Frederick Olmsted. The bridge got its name from the arch shape that resembles an archer’s bow, and is the oldest cast-iron bridge in the park.

At the time of closure the Conservancy said the Bow Bridge would reopen in January, which means the nonprofit successfully stuck to its restoration timeline.

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