They’re Fixing The Sidewalks Around Central Park, One Hexagonal Tile and Granite Block at a Time

By Charlotte Robertson

In 2016, the Central Park Conservancy, the private nonprofit organization that manages the park, began repairs on a stretch of the historic hexagonal-tiled sidewalk that surrounds the park’s perimeter. This restoration project is the first time these sidewalks have been renovated since they were installed in the 1930s. After 90 years of wear and tear, the original stones have “reached the end of their useful life,” said Nicholas Koster, vice president for design at the Conservancy, in an interview with the Rag.

The first repairs were done along Fifth Avenue at East 60th Street. In the years since the work began, the Conservancy has renovated less than a third of the park’s six-mile perimeter, mostly along Fifth Avenue — between East 60th to 65th streets and East 84th to 90th streets, with current construction taking place between East 90th to 96th streets and further construction planned for East 96th through 110th Street, in phases. 

On the west side of the park, two sections have been repaired along Central Park West, between West 60th and 62nd streets and West 86th and 90th streets. No work has been done yet on Central Park South or 110th Street. 

Walking down Fifth Avenue and Central Park West, it’s clear there is still plenty to be done: Overturned or missing tiles, collapsing curbs, and worn-down granite are present on both sides of the park. But when, and in what precise order repairs will be made, is unclear.

“The staff landscape architects that I work with had, years back, done a walk of the perimeter to really determine the blocks in greatest need,” said Koster. Prioritizing the city blocks in the greatest state of deterioration, the construction team works section by section, he explained.

And work proceeds only when sufficient funding is made available by the Conservancy and the city. 

According to Koster, replacing the hexagonal tiles and granite blocks of a single city block on the edge of Central Park costs $600,000 (the replacement tiles are copies of those first laid 90 years ago to preserve the historic look of the walkways). And construction takes years to finish, so the Conservancy does not have a comprehensive renovation timeline that would show when more repairs will begin on Central Park West, he added.

“It’s when funding becomes available, so we’re not really able to project out that far,” Koster said. When the next phase of work — East 96th through 110th — is completed in 2028, the team will reassess the perimeter to determine what area comes next. 

Albeit an overlooked component of Central Park’s makeup, the sidewalk perimeter was designed decades ago with as much intention as the park’s extensive lawns, woodlands, and sunken transverse roads. Framed by granite stones, the iconic hexagonal-tiled promenade announces that one has walked out of New York City and into a pastoral getaway.

I first noticed the Central Park sidewalks because the hexagons perfectly held my feet — a great comfort for four-year-old me, who was fearful of “breaking my mother’s back” with missteps. But 16 years later, what monopolizes my attention is the broken-down state of the sidewalks surrounding one of the city’s great outdoor treasures. Roots from the rows of elm trees planted around the park’s perimeter have torn up the promenade, pushing up the tiles into large mounds that make pedestrian navigation difficult, if not downright hazardous in places. As I walked down East 108th Street recently, for example, I watched a jogger stumble over one of the mounds and consequently give up on his run. On the park perimeter at West 92nd Street, a toddler ripped through a section of missing tiles on her scooter, sending anxiety through my bones. 

As you navigate stretches of uneven sidewalk, the renovated parts become instantly recognizable — and welcome. Crossing from the unrepaired area at West 85th to 86th Street, where a swath of restored sidewalk begins, I felt the ground flatten beneath my feet. I watched a mother and daughter, dressed to the nines in matching pointy stilettos, sigh with relief as they reached the renovated portion.

Visually speaking, the difference between the two blocks is striking. Walking the park perimeter at West 85th Street is like navigating a tricky ski slope covered with moguls. Roots burst from the sidewalk, overturning the tiles and reshaping the curb. The granite stones, bulbous and shiny from the passing of millions of feet, barely resemble rectangles. But on renovated 86th, the promenade is perfectly smooth. A few of the original granite stones have been preserved, drawing attention to the remarkable changes of the updated pavement. 

As its surrounding blocks are in much better condition, generally speaking, the renovation from West 60th to West 62nd appears less dramatic, but is nonetheless evident. 

Honoring the historical look of the sidewalks and protecting the perimeter’s elm trees are principal goals within the restoration project, Koster said. Working with arborists, the construction team plans reinstallation of copies of the hexagonal tiles around the trees. “In addition, we’re doing things like adding structural soil to allow for good root growth,” he added. 

The objective is not to change the sidewalks, but to update them for greater accessibility. For example, curbs by bus stops are being repaved with new, flatter granite stones, so that passengers — especially wheelchair users — have an easier time embarking and disembarking. Areas by benches are receiving similar treatment. “[Benches] are places for people to sit and rest in the shade under the trees…a really big part of the project is bringing them up to accessibility compliance,” Koster said. 

As a city known for and proud of its pedestrian friendliness, good sidewalks are crucial for New York. But at this rate, it will be a while before the Upper West Side sees its Central Park walkways fully restored.

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