"Central Park—before it was Central Park—was a desolate, rocky swamp," birdwatcher Ken Chaya says. Now, he and an author have mapped almost 20,000 trees in the New York City arboretum.

See rare documents from the planning stages of NYC's Central Park at an illustrated book talk with author and art historian Cynthia Benwall! Menu Search. Log in Subscribe. Sign up Sign in ...

The map will steer New Yorkers to the most picturesque “pre-peak,” “peak” and “post-peak” places to view autumn leaves and fall flowers in the park.

Central Park is approximately two-and-a-half miles long and a half-mile wide, totaling 843 acres. If you’re like me, and understand size more easily through visual comparison, then those numbers ...