Things to do nearSheep Meadow
Sheep Meadow is a beloved open lawn in Central Park, New York, drawing picnickers, sunbathers, and city dwellers seeking open sky and calm.
Sheep Meadow has been a fixture of Central Park since the park opened in the 1850s, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as part of their Greensward Plan, which envisioned large open lawns as essential counterpoints to the city's dense streets. The meadow's name is literal: sheep actually grazed here until 1934, when Parks Commissioner Robert Moses relocated the flock and the land was given over entirely to public recreation. Today the fifteen-acre expanse is one of the most recognized open spaces in the United States, framed by a backdrop of midtown Manhattan towers that rise above the tree line to the south and east, creating one of the more striking contrasts of nature and cityscape anywhere in the country.
The lawn is designated a quiet zone, meaning amplified music and organized sports are not permitted, which preserves an atmosphere of genuine calm unusual for such a central and popular location. Visitors come to sunbathe, read, sketch, practice yoga, and gather with friends across a wide stretch of well-maintained grass.
The surrounding paths connect easily to the Carousel, Tavern on the Green, and the Heckscher Playground, making it a natural anchor for a longer afternoon in the park. In spring and fall, when the surrounding trees shift color, Sheep Meadow takes on a particular beauty that rewards a slower, more attentive visit. It remains one of the clearest expressions of what Olmsted intended Central Park to be: a democratic landscape where the city's noise gives way, however briefly, to open ground and open air.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Sheep Meadow
Visit on a weekday morning for the quietest experience, when the lawn is largely empty and the light falls soft across the grass.
Bring a blanket and sunscreen, as the open meadow offers little natural shade during peak afternoon hours.
Enter from the West 66th Street or West 69th Street park entrances for the most direct walk to the meadow.
Pick up food from one of the vendor carts along the nearby park paths and turn the afternoon into a proper picnic.
Stay until early evening in summer to watch the skyline transition into silhouette as the light fades over the tree line.
Top tours & experiences near Sheep Meadow
Metropolitan Museum & Central Park 5.5-Hour Guided Tour
Explore The Met’s permanent collection and Central Park with an expert guide
Central Park 1-Hour Pedicab Tour
See Central Park’s landmarks with a licensed guide and scenic photo stops
Explore Central Park on a 40-Minute Carriage Ride
40-minute horse-drawn carriage ride past Central Park landmarks
Guided Central Park Bike Tour
Pedal Central Park’s scenic paths with a guide and Dutch bike
Central Park Semi-Private Guided Walking Tour
Walk Central Park’s paths, bridges, and landmarks with an expert guide
Central Park Architecture Walking Tour
See Central Park’s design through its bridges, landmarks, and landscapes
Central Park 2-Hour Pedicab Tour
See more of Central Park with seven photo stops and live guide commentary
30-Minute Central Park Pedicab Tour
See Central Park highlights with a licensed guide and no long walks
Central Park Private Pedicab Tour With Photo Stops
See Central Park’s landmarks with extended stops for photos
Ride a Horse-Drawn Carriage Through Central Park
1-hour VIP carriage ride with photo stops at Bethesda Fountain and Cherry Hill
50-Minute Central Park Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
Ride a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park with photo stops and key landmarks
45-Minute Horse Carriage Tour of Central Park
See Central Park landmarks from a private horse-drawn carriage
40-45 Minute Central Park Carriage Ride Tour
Ride a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park in 40–45 minutes
Central Park 2-Hour Guided Pedicab Tour
See Central Park landmarks, stories, and scenic photo stops by pedicab
90-Minute Central Park & Manhattan Pedicab Tour
Private open-air sightseeing with guide-led city stories
Central Park Gossip Girl Pedicab Tour
Follow Gossip Girl through Central Park with photo stops
Central Park 1-Hour Guided Pedicab Tour
See Central Park highlights without the long walk
Central Park 3-Hour Guided Pedicab Tour
See Central Park from south to north with stories and photo stops
Central Park Movie Locations Pedicab Tour
See Central Park film sites and celebrity landmarks by pedicab
Central Park Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
See Central Park landmarks from a private horse-drawn carriage
Central Park Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
See Central Park landmarks from a private horse-drawn carriage
Central Park Guided Pedicab Tour
Explore Central Park's landmarks with guided photo stops
Central Park 2-Hour Guided Pedicab Tour
See Central Park landmarks with photo stops and a guide-led pedicab ride
Private Central Park Guided Walking Tour
Explore Central Park’s landmarks and lesser-known history with a private guide
Metropolitan Museum & Central Park Private Tour
Private guide through the Met's masterpieces and Central Park