Patrick Gordon-What is the Ramble?

One day in class, we discussed the Ramble; a large chunk of central park that is “wilderness”. I have visited Central Park a few times before, but have never made it to this “wild” place. I’ve actually been to the Bethesda fountain and my naiveté, thought there was just woods on the other side. This being the case, I decided to research it further. The Ramble was literally carved out of a hillside; every tree, every rock, every path was sculpted by human hands. Apparently, even the spring that flows through it can be turned on and off by a tap. Since the 20th century it has been seen as a place for homosexuals to “get it on” but was originally intended to give city inhabitants a chance to see a wild place again. It has recently become a popular bird watching destination as well; over 250 different species have been spotted on the premise! At any rate, the main purpose of the Ramble is to offer humans an escape; be it from persecution, or the dulls of the city.