Central Park Landmarks
Strawberry Fields Pedicab Tour in Central Park
Strawberry Fields is a quiet landscaped garden on the west side of Central Park, across from the Dakota apartment building. It is a living memorial to John Lennon, centered on the black-and-white "Imagine" mosaic.
Photo: www.traveljunction.com · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source
Quick facts
- Where
- West side of the park, near the West 72nd Street entrance, across from the Dakota
- Dedicated
- October 9, 1985, which would have been Lennon's 45th birthday
- Designer
- landscape architect Bruce Kelly, working with Yoko Ono and the Central Park Conservancy
- Centerpiece
- the "Imagine" mosaic, a gift from the city of Naples, Italy
- Named for
- the Beatles song "Strawberry Fields Forever"
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History
John Lennon lived in the Dakota across the street and often walked in this part of the park. After his death in 1980, the City Council designated the area Strawberry Fields on March 26, 1981. Yoko Ono conceived the memorial and gave $500,000 in 1984 to redesign the area, plus an equal amount for a maintenance endowment. The renovation took place in 1984 and 1985, and the garden was dedicated on October 9, 1985.
The "Imagine" mosaic is made of black and white marble by artisans from Naples, Italy, and sits at the western apex of the garden. NYC Parks notes that trees, shrubs, flowers and rocks were contributed by many nations, and a plaque set into a rock outcrop to the east lists the countries that dedicated the garden's plantings. The garden was designed as a "Garden of Peace."
The name comes from the 1967 Beatles song "Strawberry Fields Forever." NYC Parks says the song was inspired by a Salvation Army children's home near Lennon's childhood home in Woolton, England.
What to look for
- The "Imagine" mosaic at the center of the garden
- The varied plantings and the plaque listing the countries that contributed
- The Dakota building across the street
- Benches around the central gathering area
Visiting Strawberry Fields
Strawberry Fields is a Quiet Zone and is often busy with visitors. It is a short distance from The Dakota and not far from Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. Fans gather here every December 8, the anniversary of Lennon's death. There are no restrooms on site.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Strawberry Fields in Central Park?
On the west side near the 72nd Street entrance, across from the Dakota.
What is the "Imagine" mosaic, and who gave it?
It is a black-and-white marble roundel with the word "Imagine" at its center, a gift from the city of Naples, Italy.
Who designed Strawberry Fields?
Yoko Ono conceived it, and landscape architect Bruce Kelly designed it with the Central Park Conservancy.
When was Strawberry Fields dedicated?
October 9, 1985.
Sources
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