Up, up and away on balloon rides over Central Park

By Nancy Leinfuss

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Helium-filled balloon rides offering spectacular views of New York City's Central Park took flight on Friday to mark the anniversary of the design of the landmark 150 years ago.

To celebrate the occasion, the Central Park Conservancy and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation launched AeroBalloon, a helium-filled balloon with a basket attached that will allow visitors a chance to soar as high as 30 stories above Central Park.

"This is a very special year in the history of Central Park. This event allows people to experience Central Park in a way that they'll never experience it again," said Doug Blonsky, president of the Central Park Conservancy and Park Administrator.

"Everybody travels through the park but to go above the park and see what it looks like from above is pretty amazing," he added.

The balloon ride provides a peaceful, serene look at the bustling park below, offering panoramic views of Central Park's green landscapes against the New York City skyline.

The AeroBalloon rides, which will run through August 22, will carry four passengers at a time. It will cost adults $25 and children $17.50 for a 10-minute trip. The rides will run from 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. with the balloons illuminated at night.

New York resident Samantha Kim, along with her husband and daughter, came to the park in person to book a ride.

"We always come to Central Park but we're always walking. This way, you get to see it from an aerial view. I'm sure it will look wonderful," said Kim.

For those concerned with being blown away by a sudden gust of wind -- don't sweat it -- the AeroBalloon remains tethered to the ground, according to the company.

Lauren Manoski, a 12-year old from Florida, had no reservations about hopping on board.

"I'm not afraid. I think it will be a lot of fun to see Central Park from high up," said Manoski who is vacationing with her parents.

While taking in the view from above, visitors can see the intricate design of the park and its features. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux entered their "Greensward" plan into the competition to design America's first major urban park.

Their winning design has gone on to become among the world's most famous parks. The park took nearly 20 years to complete and was finished in 1873. Workers manually dug up earth and blasted out huge boulders with gunpowder.

Each year, Central Park hosts 25 million visitors in its 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan.