Helium Balloon rides over central park!

[scumonkey]

In celebration of the Parks 150th Anniversary
You can (for a limited time period) ride in a helium
balloon over the park!

http://www.aeroballoon.com/locations-newyork-cp.shtml (http://www.aeroballoon.com/)

[lofter1]

A good deal:

See the City As Never Before – Floating 30 Stories Above Central Park!

New York: Central Park

Reservations: only available early mornings (7am-10am). After 10am, rides are on a ‘first in line’ basis. For reservations, call 646-827-6287. If your call goes to voicemail, leave a message; we’ll respond within one hour.

When: July 25 to August 22, 2008: 7am - 10pm, weather permitting

Where: Cherry Hill, Central Park at 72nd Street, west of Bethesda Fountain

Cost: Adults: $25; children: $17.50. Only children over 40" tall may ride. Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

[NYC4Life]

NY1

Balloon Rides Lift Off In Central Park

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/images/live/145/288637.jpg

July 25, 2008

This year marks an important anniversary in the history of Central Park and the organization in charge of maintaining it is floating a new idea on how to celebrate – literally. NY1's Stephanie Simon filed the following story.

It's not easy overseeing all 843 acres of Central Park, but the president of the Central Park Conservancy is getting to do just that – from 300 feet up. The conservancy is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the selection of the park's design with balloon rides over the park.

“This is pretty cool,” said Central Park Conservancy president Doug Blonsky from atop the hot air balloon. “It's seeing the park in a whole new way. I've covered every foot of Central Park from the ground, but to come up and see it above, this is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's just so beautiful up here.”

The public can have a look, too, four people at a time. Some of those in line for a ride this morning offered up their reasons for wanting to go.

“I'm a little nervous,” said one soon-to-be balloon rider. “I’m afraid of heights.”

“To be up there alone without any crowds. Any other view in New York involves, like, a thousand other tourists so I think it will be pretty cool,” added another.

“So I can say I've been up on a hot air balloon and see Central Park,” added a third.

The helium balloon is anchored to the ground at Cherry Hill, West of the Bethesda Fountain off 72nd Street. Organizers hope visitors will enjoy the scenery and the park’s design developed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux.

“I hope people get a new deep appreciation for Central Park,” said Blonsky. “New Yorkers and visitors love Central Park, but this way seeing it in this perspective, the way we're looking at it right now, it should give everybody a real sense of pride that Central Park after 150 years is probably the most beautiful that it's ever been.”

Once you're up, you don't have to click your heels or wish to go home. The balloon ride lasts just 10 minutes before you’ll be deposited back on the ground.

Rides are $25 for adults and $17.50 for kids and run from 7a.m. to 10 p.m. now through August 22nd. For more details go to www.aeroballoon.com (http://www.aeroballoon.com/).

– Stephanie Simon