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CNN Live Today

Interview With Sarah Cedar Miller

Aired July 18, 2003 - 10:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Central Park is marking its 150th birthday this year. And though time has transformed the city around it, the park's mission remains remarkably ageless. It can still soothe the soul.
Joining us is Sarah Cedar Miller. She is the park's official historian and photographer. She is also the author of "Central Park, an American Masterpiece: a Comprehensive History of the Nation's First Urban Park." She's joining us from, where else? Central Park this morning. Good morning.

SARAH CEDAR MILLER, OFFICIAL CENTRAL PARK HISTORIAN & PHOTOGRAPHER: Good morning.

KAGAN: And it looks like a lovely morning in the park.

MILLER: Oh, it's terrific. The park's been very green because of all the rain we've had. It's just beautiful.

KAGAN: Why don't you tell us about the exact site where you're joining us from this morning.

MILLER: I'm at Strawberry Fields, which is of course the beautiful landmark dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. We're right in front of the Imagine Medallion, where someone just left a rose in his honor. And there are some beautiful orchids. It's one of my favorite spots in the park.

KAGAN: I'm so glad we can have you joining us from there.

Now, people might take it for granted now, but 150 years ago, when they were putting together the idea to place this huge public space in the middle of Manhattan, this was kind of a revolutionary idea for America, wasn't it?

MILLER: It was unprecedented. Actually, it was even unprecedented for the world, because all the parks in London and Paris in the 19th century were originally royal hunting grounds. And they were given over to the people.

But in New York City, in America Central Park is the first park that was given over so much land by the people for the people and of the people. It's truly an American democratic vision.

KAGAN: It has not been all smooth sailing. Anything that's been around 150 years will have dips and valleys and peaks and valleys. About 20 years ago, and I think this about the time you got involved with the park, it was going through kind of a tough time.

MILLER: Yes, it was. The park was in total disarray. There was graffiti covering every surface. There was no grass on the lawns. The trees were badly endangered. No benches, no lights.

And in 1980, the Central Park Conservancy was founded, a nonprofit organization, mainly from New Yorkers who took back their park, have given money, have restored the park in 23 years, probably more lovely than it's ever been.

KAGAN: And now it's enjoying something of a renaissance, isn't it?

MILLER: Central Park now is magnificent. We still need a lot of help from New Yorkers. It's not over yet. The park is a living landscape. But it's more beautiful than it's ever been. We're hoping to continue for the next 150 years as well.

KAGAN: We were looking through some of the pages in the book, some of the landmarks. I think one of the things I enjoy about Central Park when I'm up there is every corner that you go around, it's a different surprise. Sometimes, that means you get lost. But you just come upon something else. Especially the statues that you find throughout the park. It's kind of like running into old friends.

MILLER: They are, they are like old friends to me. They're all so different. You could study the whole history of American sculpture by a walk in Central Park.

And also, you know, there's everything from fairy tales to animals to important heroes to cultural people. It's wonderful, and most people don't really recognize them. But some of them, like Alice in Wonderland and Balto, kids love to climb on them. In fact, Balto is the most asked for -- where's Balto? -- the most asked for question in Central Park, it's about a statue.

KAGAN: And that's where's Balto? And that's the dog statue we just saw?

MILLER: That's right.

KAGAN: Sarah, what's the future of this park, do you think?

MILLER: I think that New Yorkers are never, ever going to let Central Park go down again. The Central Park Conservancy has a commitment. And now, through endowment and through people giving to us and we hope they do continue, of course, it will continue forever.

New York -- Central Park is the heart of New York. And New Yorkers do not want their city being damaged again by the reputation of the park and nobody else will let it go back again. I think it's here to stay.

KAGAN: Let's certainly hope so. I root for this beautiful, beautiful place. Sarah Cedar Miller, thank you and enjoy the day in Central Park. MILLER: My pleasure, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired July 18, 2003 - 10:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Central Park is marking its 150th birthday this year. And though time has transformed the city around it, the park's mission remains remarkably ageless. It can still soothe the soul.
Joining us is Sarah Cedar Miller. She is the park's official historian and photographer. She is also the author of "Central Park, an American Masterpiece: a Comprehensive History of the Nation's First Urban Park." She's joining us from, where else? Central Park this morning. Good morning.

SARAH CEDAR MILLER, OFFICIAL CENTRAL PARK HISTORIAN & PHOTOGRAPHER: Good morning.

KAGAN: And it looks like a lovely morning in the park.

MILLER: Oh, it's terrific. The park's been very green because of all the rain we've had. It's just beautiful.

KAGAN: Why don't you tell us about the exact site where you're joining us from this morning.

MILLER: I'm at Strawberry Fields, which is of course the beautiful landmark dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. We're right in front of the Imagine Medallion, where someone just left a rose in his honor. And there are some beautiful orchids. It's one of my favorite spots in the park.

KAGAN: I'm so glad we can have you joining us from there.

Now, people might take it for granted now, but 150 years ago, when they were putting together the idea to place this huge public space in the middle of Manhattan, this was kind of a revolutionary idea for America, wasn't it?

MILLER: It was unprecedented. Actually, it was even unprecedented for the world, because all the parks in London and Paris in the 19th century were originally royal hunting grounds. And they were given over to the people.

But in New York City, in America Central Park is the first park that was given over so much land by the people for the people and of the people. It's truly an American democratic vision.

KAGAN: It has not been all smooth sailing. Anything that's been around 150 years will have dips and valleys and peaks and valleys. About 20 years ago, and I think this about the time you got involved with the park, it was going through kind of a tough time.

MILLER: Yes, it was. The park was in total disarray. There was graffiti covering every surface. There was no grass on the lawns. The trees were badly endangered. No benches, no lights.

And in 1980, the Central Park Conservancy was founded, a nonprofit organization, mainly from New Yorkers who took back their park, have given money, have restored the park in 23 years, probably more lovely than it's ever been.

KAGAN: And now it's enjoying something of a renaissance, isn't it?

MILLER: Central Park now is magnificent. We still need a lot of help from New Yorkers. It's not over yet. The park is a living landscape. But it's more beautiful than it's ever been. We're hoping to continue for the next 150 years as well.

KAGAN: We were looking through some of the pages in the book, some of the landmarks. I think one of the things I enjoy about Central Park when I'm up there is every corner that you go around, it's a different surprise. Sometimes, that means you get lost. But you just come upon something else. Especially the statues that you find throughout the park. It's kind of like running into old friends.

MILLER: They are, they are like old friends to me. They're all so different. You could study the whole history of American sculpture by a walk in Central Park.

And also, you know, there's everything from fairy tales to animals to important heroes to cultural people. It's wonderful, and most people don't really recognize them. But some of them, like Alice in Wonderland and Balto, kids love to climb on them. In fact, Balto is the most asked for -- where's Balto? -- the most asked for question in Central Park, it's about a statue.

KAGAN: And that's where's Balto? And that's the dog statue we just saw?

MILLER: That's right.

KAGAN: Sarah, what's the future of this park, do you think?

MILLER: I think that New Yorkers are never, ever going to let Central Park go down again. The Central Park Conservancy has a commitment. And now, through endowment and through people giving to us and we hope they do continue, of course, it will continue forever.

New York -- Central Park is the heart of New York. And New Yorkers do not want their city being damaged again by the reputation of the park and nobody else will let it go back again. I think it's here to stay.

KAGAN: Let's certainly hope so. I root for this beautiful, beautiful place. Sarah Cedar Miller, thank you and enjoy the day in Central Park. MILLER: My pleasure, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com