NYC.gov - Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting

NYC - Free Locations, Free Police Assistance, Safest Large City in the U.S.


	The object of these guidelines is to make Central Park easily accessible for all film productions while protecting and respecting the Park, its visitors, its structures, trees, plants, grass and animals. All Requests Must Contact Central Park. A minimum of three days advance notice is required. Call the Central Park Conservancy Film and Photography Unit at 212-628-1036, Ext.29, or by email at: film@centralparknyc.org. Production vehicles are permitted ONLY in the following Areas: CHERRY HILL DEAD ROAD 102nd St. Transverse • Speed Limits: 5 mph on pedestrian paths, 15 mph on park drives. • Vehicles are permitted on paved surfaces only, even where ground is bare. • No vehicles are permitted on the Bridal Paths. • No vehicles permitted on weekends or holidays. • Park enforcement and police will summon all vehicles without permits on the dashboard. • Vehicles may not block pathways or stop on Park drives. • Stopped vehicles must turn off their engines. • Pedestrian paths and closed drives cannot be used as shortcuts. • Use vehicle entrances that minimize driving in the Park. • No personal vehicles are permitted in the Park. • Trucks, cranes and oversized vehicles must receive special permission to park in the Park. The Following Is Prohibited: • Use of Tripods, Props or Lighting in the following areas: East Green Great Lawn Area Hernshead North Meadow North Woods Area The Ramble Sheep Meadow Strawberry Fields • Tying, draping or supporting cables, ropes, props or equipment to trees or shrubs. • Cutting, tying back or altering shrubs, plantings or trees in any way. • Posting direction signs for filming locations of any kind. • Digging surfaces of any kind for any purpose. • Use of open flames. • Use of amplified sound without pre-approved sound checks for volume. • Tents or plastic tarps of any kind. • Live sound music video productions. • Tying or attaching anything to any architectural features or statues, sculptures or fountains. • Placing Portosans in the Park. • Working in the Park after 1am. • Offering gifts or payments of any kind to Parks' employees. • Filming in Playgrounds, Ballfields, Bowling Green or Closed Landscapes / Restricted Areas. • All trash created by the film shoot or its catering must be removed from the Park. Park trash receptacles cannot be used to dispose of any waste. Film companies will be summonsed for any trash left behind or scattered across landscapes. Film companies are responsible for all damages. All areas should be left in the condition they were found. Any damages must be reported to the Central Park Conservancy and the Mayor's Office of Film. Separate permission is required to film in Conservatory Garden, call 212-360-2766. Fees may apply. KEY FILM LOCATIONS Bethesda Terrace: Directions: Enter Central Park at 72 St. and Fifth Ave. Go West on the 72 St. cross-drive. Bethesda Terrace is located on the north side of the cross-drive in the center of the park. Make a left turn at the path directly opposite of the Bethesda Terrace to access the Mall area. Special Info: Production vehicles are not permitted on the Bethesda Terrace, the plaza around the fountain or the paths above the arcade. Production vehicles are not permitted to unload in or block the recreation lane on the East 72 St. cross-drive. Sheep Meadow: Directions: Enter Central Park at 72 St. and Central Park West. Go south on the West Drive. Sheep Meadow is located on the east side of the West Drive at 67 St. Make a left turn onto the outer pedestrian path at the north-west corner of the Sheep Meadow. Special Info: Production activity is permitted on the Sheep Meadow only when it is open. The meadow is open in dry weather from May through October, from 11 am to dusk. All other equipment must be hand held. Strawberry Fields: Directions: Enter Central Park at 77 St. and Central Park West. Go south on the West Drive to the West 72 St. exit ramp. Strawberry Field is located between the West 72 St. exit ramp and the west Drive. Parking: Parking is available for production vehicles only on the east side of the West 72 St. Exit ramp. Park vehicles single file at least 100 ft. from the stop sign. Special Info: Special permission must be obtained from the Central Park Chief of Operations to film in this location. Wollman Rink: Directions: Enter Central Park at Fifth Ave and Central Park South. Go north on the closed East Drive. Wollman Rink is located on the west side of the east Drive at 63 St. Parking: Parking is available for production vehicles only on the east side of the East Drive. All vehicles must park as close to the fence on the east side (zoo side) of the drive as possible. Vehicles may unload on the paths around Wollman Rink but cannot park there for the production. Special Info: Wollman Rink is a concession and special permission must be obtained to film this location. Still photography guidelines in all city parks