New York City’s Central Park is renowned as one of the world’s most famous urban landscapes and few spots capture its beauty and charm quite like Central Park’s Bow Bridge. Spanning 87 feet across The Lake – one of the park’s most picturesque bodies of water, linking the Ramble on the east to Cherry Hill on the west – the bridge was first constructed in 1860. With its graceful cast-iron curves, intricate detailing, and sweeping skyline views, the Bow Bridge is an architectural marvel of its time and one of the most photographed and iconic pedestrian bridges in the world.
After more than 160 years of enduring weather extremes, heavy foot traffic, and countless film productions, the bridge showed clear signs of wear. While it underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2015, by 2024, the Southern Yellow Pine decking required replacement. For this essential upgrade, Accoya emerged as the optimal solution – its exceptional dimensional stability ensures the wood retains its shape and structural integrity without warping, cupping, or swelling, even under New York’s intense seasonal fluctuations. In addition to its superior performance, Accoya’s sourcing from sustainably managed forests and its minimal environmental impact made it a natural fit for the Central Park Conservancy and New York City Parks, aligning with their long-standing commitment to ecological stewardship.
Sergio Munhoz, North American Sales Director comments, “It’s a privilege to contribute to the preservation of such a cherished New York City landmark. Bow Bridge required a material that could offer long-term reliability while respecting its historic character. Accoya’s superior durability, dimensional stability, and sustainability credentials made it the right choice to help ensure this iconic structure continues to be enjoyed for generations to come.”
The restoration of the Bow Bridge deck has revitalised this historic gem. Using Accoya, the bridge exemplifies how timeless design and modern innovation can coexist in perfect harmony.