Alive in the summer months with
dragonflies and damselflies that dance
and hover over the surface of the water
is Turtle Pond.
Located on the southern
edge of the Great Lawn and directly to
the north below the grand panorama
from Belvedere Castle at Vista Rock lays
this enchanting Central Park habitat.
Though Turtle Pond seems as much a
thought out habitat as others in the
Park's original design, it wasn't.
Inhabiting the space it now occupies along
with the Great Lawn was the Croton
Reservoir, which was filled in by the Parks
Department in the 1930s with the south
side adjacent to Belvedere Castle becoming
Belvedere Lake. Over the years this more
or less undefined environment evolved with
the appearance of turtles, fish, dragonflies
and other forms of aquatic life. In 1987 it
was renamed Turtle Pond.
The original designers,Olmsted and Vaux
would have been very pleased with the result.
It now conforms completely to their ideal
that brings people together with plants and
wildlife so they can experience and enjoy
nature free of the urban pressure, which
enjoin their urban existence.
Turtle Island, located on the western shoreline
of Turtle Pond, is a mini habitat with the
appropriate plant life and space for turtle
breeding and bird nesting.
Lining the shore are aquatic plants including
Bulrush, Lizard's Tail, Cattail, Pickerelweed
and Turtlehead.
A jetty extends into Turtle Pond from the
northwestern bank, which gives visitors a
closer view of the island habitat as well as
the eastern expanse of the Pond. It is also
a perfect vista from which to spot
Belvedere Castle and Vista Rock towering
above to the south.
In the spring daffodils and irises bloom on
the shoreline and in the summer visitors
will also find coneflowers.
