When the 1811 Commissioner’s Grid was established, streets were laid out all the way to 155th Street (it was assumed that it would take many generations for the city to develop that far north). The largest green space provided was the Parade Ground, a large tract from 23rd Street to 34th Street, and from 3rd to 7th Avenues, in addition to a couple of smaller squares scattered about. As the city grew, lots were sold on the Parade Ground, and its size was reduced to that of the current Madison Square Park. By the 1840s, the area below 14th Street was extremely crowded, and people were pushing north towards 42nd Street. Around this time, folks such as William Cullen Bryant and Alexander Jackson Downing started campaigning for a large green space that could serve as the “lungs” of the crowded city. An obvious choice was Jones’ Wood, a wooded area on the eastern side of Manhattan, far from the northern limits of the city. Jones’ Wood had attracted wealthy New Yorkers like the Schermerhorns and the Astors, who constructed airy summer residences overlooking the East River. It was also a popular spot for day trips and picnics, and some groups held large-scale games and festivals in the area.

There was much debate about the use of this site for a public park, and the families who owned the land took the city to court, which slowed down the process. Another site emerged as a possible contender, a rocky location right in the middle of the island. This became the more favorable site, as the city already owned part of the land, and the rest of it could easily be bought or taken with eminent domain (there were an estimated 1,600 people living on the land, many of them in a settlement known as Seneca Village, which was seized by the city, with all of the residents evicted by 1857). Both the city and area developers realized that once the park was completed, the lots bordering the park would tremendously increase in value, particularly along the stretch of 5th Avenue, which was not developed much past 42nd Street (its name did carry a great deal of prestige then, as it still does today). In 1853, the state chose the central location, and a competition was held for the design of the park. Despite earlier calls for a park that would be for all of the people, the Commissioners did not want the park overrun by rapscallions, and they chose the Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux’s pastoral Greensward Plan, which would become a playground for the wealthy. This came true, of course, and the park was incredibly popular with moneyed New Yorkers, who often took their carriages out along the drives, and promenaded along the Mall. Other New Yorkers soon made trips uptown to enjoy the park, which provided year-round attractions, such as picnicing in the warmer months, and ice skating during the winter.

The park has been altered numerous times over the course of its history, and there have been many more plans for changes to the park. However, of the things that have changed, they often harmonize with the original design of the park, rather than being large-scale developments. A great example of this the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which moved to a site along 5th Avenue. Its first building (which still stands within the labyrinth of successive structures built later), designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, opened in 1880. The Great Lawn was once the site of the Croton Receiving Reservoir, which was built in 1842, predating the park; it was demolished in the 1930s, and now is one of the most popular spots in the park (one would think that Vaux and Olmsted would be happy that it is gone, as it was considered to be an eyesore). When the city was vying to host the 1883 World’s Fair, President Ulysses S. Grant championed Central Park for its site, but the public outcry was so great that he chose Inwood instead (funding fell through, and the fair was never held). A restaurant and tavern had been built on the former site of the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, overlooking McGowan’s Pass in the northern reaches of the park, but it was not meant to be a permanent spot for housing (some Tammany Hall politicians did stay there, but that was usually just after a night of drinking heavily).

One of the most interesting proposals to radically alter Central Park was presented by architect Ernest Flagg in 1904. Flagg presented an idea to continue 6th and 7th Avenues through the park, opening up development on either side. A strip of the park would remain, and it would be completely redesigned. As part of the plan, buildings between 6th and 7th Avenues to the north and south of the park would be demolished, and a series of smaller parks would be built up and down the entire length of the island. Flagg estimated that the plan would take 40 years to build, but it was immediately dismissed as impractical, and nothing came of it. Even more over 100 years ago, it was evident that Central Park was a beloved spot and that any attempts to dramatically change the park as a whole would be met with an incredible backlash. It may indeed be valuable real estate, but the park itself is worth so much more to the New Yorkers who enjoy it, and the many tourists who come to see its wonders (to the tune of over 37.5 million visitors a year). Every couple of years, a zany proposal arises, such as this one, but they seem to be more of a talking point than anything that we are likely to see happen. As the developers knew well over 150 years ago, the real estate along the park is the real value, and views of the park have long since been in demand (look no further than recent boom along “Billionaire’s Row” on 57th Street, which is of course less about 57th Street and more about soaring views of the park).

I hope that answers your question! Flagg’s plan is one of the better known ones, so I wrote about it here. There were likely others, but I have to do much more research in order to find the actual proposals. Rest assured, Central Park is here to stay for many more years to come.