Arthur Ross Pinetum - Central Park

What and Where

Nestled exactly in the middle of Central Park adjacent to 85th Street is the Arthur Ross Pinetum which contains the only dedicated adult workout space in the park. Actually this is a bit of an overstatement as the facility literally consists of just two pullup bars in the middle of a well-shaded area filled with wood chips. Frankly it is a bit odd that the most publicized park in the city has merely one area for which adults may workout. While to be fair the park certainly caters to runners, cyclists, tennis players and other athletes, it is unfortunate that it lacks adequate equipment for body weight athletes.

 Source: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/54433953

Equipment

The equipment consists of two pullup bars, one of which is approximately 6-7 feet above ground which will allow most adult males to do pullups and hanging leg raises without bending their knees.The other is roughly 5.5 feet high. The equipment is made of steel and appears sturdy and is well suited for even the most vigorous and heaviest of athletes.

There are a number of A-frame picnic tables in the area which folks tend to use for pushups, crunches and dips. I recommend bringing two picnic tables close together and performing dips while resting your hands on the edges of each table. You can also raise the table on one end and perform military presses, just be careful to protect your back when doing so. The swing set nearby can be utilized for body weight rows as long as you don't have to scare away any toddlers.

You will find this equipment well utilized during the spring and summer months when most outdoor athletes are out and about, and you may have to wait patiently for your turn to use the bar.

 With that said this is still a lovely place to workout and I highly recommend you give it a few pulls from the high bar.

Pros

• The regulars are quite friendly and are often willing to share their advice and wisdom with the newbies.
• Sturdy construction.
• Tall enough for most adult males to use without bending the knees. 
• Well shaded for your hot summer workout.

Cons

• Small facility and minimal equipment relative to the stature of this park. 
• The area can become quite muddy after a good rain storm. 

Closing remark

According to Google a "pinetum" is defined as "an arboretum of pine trees or other conifers for scientific or ornamental purposes". It is a composite of a Latin and English word, and apparently was used relatively frequently in the 1850s and early 1900s. Based on the Google graph usage of this word has declined significantly since.