Central Park's Fall Foliage Tracker in NYC Rates Color in Four Stages

The Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit that has cared for the park since 1980, runs a Fall Foliage Tracker on its website. It is a live map showing how far the color has turned across Central Park, and it is updated by the Conservancy's arborists, the staff who look after the park's 19,000 trees.

The map labels each area with one of four stages: No Change, Changing, Peak and Post-Peak. That gives a simple way to plan a walk. Aim for the zones marked Peak, and leave the ones still Changing for a few days later.

The park's official Instagram account marked the turn on October 19, saying foliage was officially changing across Central Park. In the reel, arborist Karenna and Lead Arborist Brady stood in the North Meadow and pointed out some of their favorite colorful trees. The post sends followers to the tracker and to the Conservancy's free Fall Guide.

The Fall Guide page that hosts the tracker also lists seasonal extras. The Central Park Farm Stand runs every Saturday through October 31, selling fresh, seasonal produce in the park, which fits easily into a foliage walk. The page also promotes the Central Park Conservancy Shop's fall range, including cozy layers, tote bags and park-inspired tees.

For photographers, the Conservancy invites visitors to tag @CentralParkNYC for a chance to be featured on its social channels. Its recent Instagram posts credit visitors' foliage photos, sketches and wildlife shots, including a watercolor of the Bow Bridge scene drawn on location.

The Conservancy's offices are at 717 Fifth Avenue, and the tracker lives on its Fall Guide & Foliage Tracker page. For visitors and residents looking for New York's autumn color, it is a practical way to decide which part of a very large park to head for.