As the population of New York City swelled in the 19th century, the city's reservoirs were built to supply a growing population with a safe and reliable water supply.

Central Park Reservoir ca. 1947 One of the Park's most picturesque landscapes, the reservoir is 40 feet deep and holds a billion gallons of water. It was built in the 1860s as a temporary water supply for New York City, while the Croton Water system was shut down for repairs two weeks each year. The reservoir was decommissioned in 1993, deemed obsolete because of the Third Water Tunnel. President Bill Clinton, Madonna, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis (for whom the reservoir was named in 1994) have all run on the 1.58-mile track.

In 1977, the City created a new agency to manage its water supply and wastewater treatment and to regulate air quality, noise, and hazardous materials: the Department of Environmental Protection. DEP inherited the infrastructure, responsibilities, and documentation of many predecessor agencies dating back to the 1840s. That documentation comprises the bulk of the DEP archives and is still used in planning capital construction and rehabilitation projects, as well as watershed land management, facilities maintenance, and other operations.

The history of organized outdoor play for children in New York goes back over 100 years, reflecting the social and cultural issues throughout.

Central Park Reservoir ca. 1931 Built between 1858 and 1862, the 106-acre reservoir is 40 feet deep and holds over a billion gallons of water. Once a critical part of the city’s fresh water system, it received water from the Croton Aqueduct and distributed it throughout Manhattan. The reservoir was decommissioned in 1993, deemed obsolete due to the new water main under 79th Street that connected with the Third Water Tunnel, and because of growing concerns about contamination. In 1994, the reservoir was renamed for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in recognition of her contributions to the New York City, and because she enjoyed jogging along the 1.58 mile running track that surrounds it. In 2003, an unsightly seven-foot chain link fence was replaced by a four foot tall steel fence with cast-iron ornamentation, based on the design of the fence that was installed when the reservoir was completed in 1862.

Central Park is one of New York's beloved public spaces. Sculpted by Olmstead and Vaux, millions have sheltered under its trees and walked its roads. But in the creation of this magnificent park, a Black community was destroyed. The destruction of Seneca Village shows the complicated legacy of even our most treasured spaces.

We stand alongside the Black community and all those speaking against systemic racism and violence with justice, hope, and truth. The fight for justice is one that we all need to play a role in, whatever form that might be. In our sphere of work, this means doing our part to help make archives more inclusive and equitable to communities that have historically been left out. As a start, this story is dedicated to honoring Black life and legacy in New York. Read on for stories of triumph in injustice.

The upper portion of Central Park is perhaps the less visited section of New York's man-made oasis but includes some lovely areas. Take a look at some of the lesser-known spots in the park.