Central Park Landmarks
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir Pedicab Tour in Central Park
The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is the largest body of water in Central Park, a 106-acre expanse in the middle of the park between 86th and 96th Streets. Once part of the city's drinking water system, it is now a quiet place for birdwatching, with a 1.58-mile running track around its edge.
Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 · Source
Quick facts
- Where
- Mid-park, between 86th and 96th Streets
- Built
- 1858 to 1862, as a backup supply for the city's Croton Aqueduct
- Size
- 106 acres, holding about 1 billion gallons
- Decommissioned
- 1993; renamed for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1994
- Running track
- 1.58 miles, renovated in 2024
- Managed today by
- the NYC Department of Environmental Protection
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History
Construction began in April 1858, and the reservoir was built as a backup supply for the Receiving Reservoir to its south, a site that is now the Great Lawn. Together they were part of the Croton Aqueduct system, and the reservoir divided the park into what its designers called the Upper and Lower Parks. When the city's water system grew, including the third water tunnel, the reservoir was decommissioned in 1993. A year later it was renamed for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who often jogged and walked here, after her death in May 1994.
Around the edge is a cast-iron fence. The original ran from 1862 until 1926, when a chain-link fence replaced it. In 2003 the Conservancy built a lower replica, partly modeled on a section divers found at the bottom of the reservoir. A fountain installed in 1917 to mark the completion of the first water tunnel was reactivated in 1998 and again in 2003, and now floats on the water.
Running around the reservoir became a mainstream pastime in the 1960s, and the Conservancy says the 1976 film Marathon Man helped make the loop famous. The Stephanie and Fred Shuman Running Track was renovated and finished in May 2024.
What to look for
- The fountain floating in the center of the water
- The cast-iron replica fence
- Okame and Yoshino cherry trees along the track, which draw crowds at blossom time
- Waterfowl in winter and warblers in the surrounding trees in spring, according to the Audubon Society
Visiting Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
The reservoir is just north of The Great Lawn and Belvedere Castle. The track runs one way, counterclockwise, and does not allow dogs, bicycles or strollers. There are no restrooms at the reservoir. Cherry blossom dates vary every year.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir?
Mid-park, between 86th and 96th Streets.
How long is the track around the reservoir?
1.58 miles per loop.
Why is it named for Jackie Kennedy Onassis?
She often jogged and walked there. It was renamed in 1994 after her death.
Is the reservoir still used for drinking water?
No. It stopped supplying drinking water in 1993.
Sources
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