During the early years of the 1850s, proposals for the development of a large park were quite common.  The plan proposed by Fredrick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, known as the Greensward Plan, won the design competition of 1858, defeating the design proposed by Egbert Viele which had been previously accepted by the Central Park commissioners.  The design submitted by Olmsted and Vaux reflected the board of commissioners desires to create the landscaped park modeled on the romantic, picturesque and naturalistic parks of Europe, particularly those of the English tradition.

            Olmsted and Vaux suggested that the park be divided into two sections; the Upper Park, which was characterized by bold and sweeping slopes, grand scale gardening, and the Reservoir(18); and the Lower Park, which was characterized by a much more varied landscape including a long and rocky hillside.(19)  The Greensward Plan also included plans for four transverse roads.  Olmsted and Vaux wanted to alleviate traffic throughout the Park while maintaining a healthy and tranquil atmosphere.  There solution was ingenious and involved constructing the roads below ground level.(20)  The Greensward Plan also outlined various other elements of the Park such as the Ramble, the Victorian inspired Bandstand, the Terrace, and the Esplanade.   

Pre-Central Park Shanties

Greensward Plan Sketches

        The image above is the 1856 plan proposed by Egbert Viele during the Central Park design competition.  His plan provided ample space for cricket and parade grounds.  (Picture taken from, The Park and the People, p. 100-101)

        The image above is the 1856 Greensward Plan proposed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux during the Central Park design competition.  (Picture taken from, The Park and the People, p. 122-123)