Central Park signs conserve past, drive funding

In a new marketing initiative the Central Park Conservancy has placed 15 "before" signs throughout the park to give the public a look back at the historic decline and rise of Central Park.

The new signs show a park struck with graffiti, trash, barren landscapes and overall unwelcoming conditions.

Locations in the park such as the Great Lawn, the Harlem Meer and Belvedere Castle will have a signs measuring 52 inches wide by 90 inches tall showing a pre-restoration photo.

The signs were made in collaboration with direct marketing agency Wunderman New York.

The agency also redesigned the park's 18 entrance signs with new messages detailing the different tasks involved in maintaining the 843-acre park.

The park's Web site at www.centralparknyc.org offers Central Park news, events and history as well an online store.