Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, also called the Central Park Reservoir, is a big body of water in Central Park in Manhattan, New York City. It runs from 86th to 96th Streets and covers 106 acres.

The reservoir was built in the 1860s to help bring clean water to the city. It was called the Upper Reservoir at the time. The older Yorkville Reservoir nearby was called the Lower Reservoir and was torn down in the 1930s.

In 1994, the reservoir was renamed to honor Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She was a former First Lady who loved jogging there. Today, the reservoir is a popular spot for walking, running, and enjoying the outdoors.

History

Design and construction

In the 1850s, someone named Nicholas Dean had the idea for Central Park. He was the president of the Croton Aqueduct Board. He chose a spot because there was already a big water storage area there, called the Yorkville Reservoir. This reservoir was built in 1842 and was where Turtle Pond is today. The land north of it was marshland drained by the Sawkill.

In 1857, there was a contest to design Central Park. The winners were Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Their plan was called the Greensward Plan. They included a bigger reservoir called the Upper Reservoir in their plan. Building it started in 1858 and finished in 1862.

Decommissioning

The reservoir stopped being used in 1993. A new water main under 79th Street made it unnecessary, and there were concerns about water safety. Even though it wasn’t needed anymore, it stayed part of New York City’s water system, ready to help if there was ever a drought. In 1999, control of the reservoir changed from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Renaming

In 1994, the reservoir was named after Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to honor her work for the city. She helped save Grand Central Terminal and protected Central Park’s beauty. She also liked to jog around the reservoir, and her apartment at 1040 Fifth Avenue had views of it.

Description

The reservoir covers 106 acres and holds over 1 billion US gallons of water. It no longer supplies New York City's water, but it still provides water to the nearby Pool and Harlem Meer.

It is a popular spot in Central Park. Many people, including famous ones like Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Madonna, enjoy running on the 1.58-mile running track there. The track is separated from the water by a fence added in 2003. The fence was designed to look like the original one from the 1800s.

The area is also known for its beautiful cherry trees and flowers, which attract many visitors. It is a great place for nature lovers, as many different kinds of birds can be seen there.

In popular culture

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir has been seen in many films and TV shows. Some movies that show the reservoir include Central Park (1932), Marathon Man (1976), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Devil's Advocate (1997), and Sex and the City (2008).

Television shows that have featured the reservoir are Gossip Girl (2007–2012), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023), and The Boys (2019).