Hallett Nature Sanctuary is a four-acre woodland peninsula at Central Park’s southeast corner, overlooking the Pond. Its protected history and later restoration reveal how an urban park can preserve habitat while carefully reopening a landscape for visitors.
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A wooded slope rises just beyond the Pond, close to Midtown’s traffic but separated by a narrow band of water and trees. Hallett Nature Sanctuary was fenced off in 1934 and designated a bird sanctuary. For decades, it remained largely closed and became overgrown with invasive plants.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Hallett is four acres and overlooks the Pond.
- The area was fenced and made a bird sanctuary in 1934.
- It reopened for public access after restoration in 2016.
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