Strawberry Fields in New York City's Central Park at West Side between 71st and 74th Streets was dedicated in 1981 in honor of John Lennon (1940-1980), a musician who belonged to the famous Beatles.
When the singer lived in the nearby Dakota, this was his favorite area in the park. The area was named Strawberry Fields Forever after the famous song. The musician's widow Yoko Ono later made a donation to maintain the 2.5-acre piece. Today, numerous visitors come here to pay tribute to the artist, bringing flowers and candles.
The black-and-white mosaic, a reproduction of a mosaic from Pompeii, is located near the west entrance. It includes a single word IMAGINE, the title of a popular song.
The circular area surrounding the black-and-white mosaic has many benches where you can take a seat and rest before visiting other areas of the park and the city.
The Dakota is a luxury apartment building on the Upper West Side which was made famous by the singer and his wife, who once resided there. When it was built in the 19th century, the Dakota was far away from the confines of the city. Today, surrounded by numerous other buildings, it is located in one of the residential areas of the city. The The building was designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh, who also designed the Plaza Hotel.
Another beautiful area to visit nearby is Summit Rock at West Side between 81st and 85th Streets. This is the highest natural elevation in Central Park. The site used to offer views of the city. Today, however, it is surrounded by tall trees. At the top, there is a stone amphitheater with benches where visitors enjoy a quiet moment surrounded by trees and shrubs.
Nearby you will also find the American Museum of Natural History, Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater and several playgrounds. Across the park, towards Upper East Side, you will see Conservatory Water, the Alice in Wonderland Statue and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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