New York City, New York story
A Sanctuary of Silence
In the southeastern corner of Central Park, there's a four-acre woodland that feels like a secret. For over eighty years, the Hallett Nature Sanctuary was almost entirely off-limi…
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In the southeastern corner of Central Park, there's a four-acre woodland that feels like a secret. For over eighty years, the Hallett Nature Sanctuary was almost entirely off-limits to the public. Back in 1934, Robert Moses closed the area, then known as The Promontory, and designated it as a bird sanctuary.
The goal was simple: leave it undisturbed. While the rest of the city grew louder and more crowded, this small hill remained a fortress of quiet. It wasn't until 2016 that regular visitor hours finally began, allowing us to walk the rustic trails.
Today, it's a vital refuge where up to 210 species of migrating birds can escape the urban chaos. It's a rare pocket of the city where nature was given the right of way.
Updated June 2026