Driprock Arch Bridge - New York, New York - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

Driprock Arch Bridge carries traffic above a pedestrian walkway in Central Park. The underside of the bridge is all brick.

The Central Park Conservancy website tells us:

Driprock originally stood over the bridle path that was destroyed, lost with the expansion of Heckscher Playground in the 1930s. One of the Park's 36 bridges and arches, Driprock Arch is composed of a red brick facade and Gothic-detailed balustrade of New Brunswick sandstone. Today, a pedestrian walk runs beneath it, connecting Hecksher Playground to Wollman Rink.

The Bridges of Central Park website tells us:

An elliptical archway framed in sandstone, Driprock spans 24 feet, reaching a height of 11 feet. The underpass runs for 65 feet while the balustrade extends 79 feet 8 inches.

Driprock suffered considerable deterioration through the years due to weathering. It is one of the few archways where red brick is used for revetment, combined with sandstone trim at the arch and the balustrade. Octagonal insets with rosettes add touches of color and texture.

Above the arch and red-brick spandrels rests the cornice and the balustrade with its open stonework of Gothic detail in New Brunswick sandstone. A number of the sandstone balustrade pieces have been replaced by cast stone, an expedient remedy considering the plague of the balustrades along the park drives: careening cars.

Driprock's horizontal line blends with the surrounding landscape. Near its northeastern side is a large osage orange. In the 1850s it was considered very much of an exotic, a native of the Southwest.

Length of bridge: 24 feet Height of bridge: 11 feet What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Motor Vehicle Traffic What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: Pedestrian Path in Central Park Date constructed: 1860 Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes Name of road or trail the bridge services: Central Park Drive Location: Central Park, New York City

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Date Logged Log User Rating   01/06/2023 Ariberna visited it