New York Gets $100 Million to Spruce Up Central Park

Billionaire John Paulson has recently made it public news that, after enjoying a few strolls in New York's Central Park, he decided that this patch of greenery found amidst the Big Apple's towering buildings needed some sprucing up, and that he was more than willing to financially support this initiative.

Truth be told, the park spreads over 845 acres of land, of which 250 are lawns, 130 are woodlands and 150 represent lakes and streams.

As well as this, as many as 24,000 trees are presently residing in this part of the city. Therefore, as high officials explain, Central Park is anything but low maintenance.

Ecorazzi reports that John Paulson agreed to donate $100 million (€77.11 million) to projects intended to make the park's water sources and vegetation both healthier and more appealing to the general public.

Apparently, $60 million (€46.26 million) will be provided as a lump sum in just one year, whereas the remaining $40 (€30.84 million) will be donated in 4 yearly installments of $10 million (€7.71 million) each.

Commenting on his gift to New Yorkers and their Central Park, this billionaire greenhead made a case of how, “This past weekend in Central Park I saw babies in carriages, children playing, couples holding hands, dogs running, musicians playing, people jogging, cycling and people from all over the world talking, laughing and exercising.”

Furthermore, “I thought to myself, 'Central Park is a paradise unlike anywhere in the world.”

Presently, New York's high officials are wondering whether or not John Paulson's donation might help convince other people to green up their lifestyle and look into the possibility of making their own contribution to keeping urban patches of greenery up and running.

As Professor Thomas Elmqvist put it when discussing EU's recommendation that urban architecture should give due consideration to natural ecosystems, “Cities need to learn how to better protect and enhance biodiversity, because rich biodiversity can exist in cities and is extremely critical to people's health and well-being.”