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| By Gina Pace and Armen Terjimanian |
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DEDICATED TO THE memory of one of the most famous musicians in the world, Strawberry Fields has become one of Central Park’s most visited spots. John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, donated $1 million to the Central Park Conservancy for the re-landscaping and maintenance of Strawberry Fields, which takes its name from the Beatles song and is located on the park’s west side between 71st and 74th streets.
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“Let me take you down
’cause I'm going to / Strawberry Fields / Nothing is real / And nothing to get hung about / Strawberry
Fields Forever.”
—John Lennon |
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Strawberry Fields opened on Oct. 9, 1985, which would have been Lennon’s 45th birthday. Musicians and fans still gather here on that day and on Dec. 8, the anniversary of his death. The black-and-white mosaic at Strawberry Fields’ western entrance was a gift from the city of Naples, Italy, and features the word “Imagine,” the title of one of Lennon’s most famous songs. |
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Visitors come from around the world to the 2.5-acre site to see what 121 countries have endorsed as a “park of peace,” according to the Central Park Conservancy. But some locals say they avoid the park because the tourists make it too hectic. View the slide show to see what New Yorkers and visitors have to say about Strawberry Fields.
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Quick facts |
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Yoko Ono donated $1 million to Central Park Conservancy to maintain Strawberry Fields. |
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The park takes its name from a Beatles song. |
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Size: 2.5 acres |
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Opened in 1985 on what would have been John Lennon's 45th birthday. |
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The mosaic with the word
“Imagine” came from Naples, Italy. |
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