BEFORE CENTRAL PARK

There’s a place in Manhattan, N.Y. the world knows as Central Park. It has been the setting for many movie scenes, tv shows, commercials, public outings, photo shoots… and the list goes on and on, for decades. This place is definitely an iconic area in our present time. Not only for New York but, as a world landmark. Most people have at least heard about it but, very few know about it’s origins.

In the 1820’s, newly freed Black slaves started to buy lots of land within a seven block radius creating a community that would soon be called Seneca Village. This became the start of what was found to be a considerably interracial social environment. This thriving neighborhood was one of the first of it’s kind. People were educated and owned their own properties.

Not more than a few decades into the prosperity of Seneca Village, New York’s elite decided the city needed a park region to even out the overcrowding of living space from the land itself. Unfortunately, the 750 acres of land chosen for this new project included the prospering village community, among others.