Central Park’s Women’s Heritage Trail

This plaza is a spot for rotating sculptural art exhibitions organized by the Public Art Fund. The plaza bears the name of Doris C. Freedman (1928-1981), who founded 1977 the Public Art Fund to bring the public free powerful experiences with art. Freedman was a New Yorker since birth who dedicated her life to increasing public art in the city.

One of the most famous and beautiful ice rinks in the city is located on the southeast side of the park since 1950. The philanthropist Kate Wollman (1870-1955) funded the rink construction as a memorial to her family members. During the summertime, the ice rink transforms into an amusement park.

The first statue of real women in Central Park is only here since August 2020. The monument depicts 3 of the US suffrage movement leaders who fought for women’s constitutional rights to vote- Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906), and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902). It was created by the artist Meredith Bergmann, who chose to present the women in a collaborative meeting. Pay attention to the women’s dresses, historic accessories, and artifacts planted in the monument, such as The Declaration of Sentiments, old newspapers, and more.

More about the statue and its journey in this article.

Named after Mary Harriman Rumsey (1881-1934), a wealthy philanthropist and a social activist in the Settlement Movement in New York City. Rumsey co-founded the Junior League of the City of New York. The local charter inspired more communities to form Junior Leagues; all joined later under the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. At the end of the 20th century, the organization had more than 160000 members. Rumsey was also involved in FDR New Deal reforms, which her brother continued after she passed away.

Emma Stebbins (1818-1882) was a talented neoclassical lesbian sculptress in the 19th century. Stebbins became the first woman to receive a public art commission from NYC when she created the Angel of the Waters Statue, which sits atop the Bethesda Fountain (dedicated on May 31, 1873). Stebbins created the angle in the image of a woman with a lily in her hand that represents purity, and the four cherubs below represent Peace, Health, Purity, and Temperance. A theme that was relevant then, when clean water was supplied to the city and stored in the Central Park reservoir.

This playground is located on the Upper West Side across the street from the famous singer Diana Ross residence. Ross planned to fund the playground’s construction from television rights and merchandise from two free concerts she gave at Central Park in the summer of 1983. Thunderstorm at the first show destroyed all the merchandise, leaving no profits to use, so eventually, she used personal funds. The playground was dedicated in 1986 and has wood equipment, swings, and a small splash area.

Check out her music CDs in here.

Gloria Steinem’s bench near the Met was dedicated to her for her 80th birthday.
The sign on the bench reads:
“In celebration of the 80th birthday of Women’s Movement organizer, the great Gloria Steinem and in honor of her hero, Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) who understood that equality includes everyone or no one.”

The Central Park Reservoir was renamed in 1994 to honor the former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929-1994) and her contribution to the city. Her apartment overlooked this area of the park, and she used to jog its 1.58-mile circle jogging track. The reservoir doesn’t provide water to the city since 1993 but is still a big attraction in Central Park, especially in the cherry tree blooming season.
Click to read more about the HerStory of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and books about her.

The ice rink/swimming pool is named after the philanthropist and social worker Loula Davis Lasker (1887-1961), who donated $600,000 for its construction. The facility opened on December 22, 1966, and for many years was the only convertible ice rink/pool facility in the US. It is closed for reconstruction till 2024.

Elizabeth Barlow Rogers (B. 1936) revitalized, restored, and improved Central Park during the 1980s, transforming it from a trash and neglected area to what it is like today. She founded the Central Park Conservancy, which manages and maintains the park, and served as its first president. Rogers is a landscape designer, landscape preservationist, writer, and a mother of two.

The Dairy was the first restored project of the Central Park Conservancy.
Follow this link to read books she wrote.