Strawberry Fields Forever

One of the things almost every baby boomer remembers fondly was the band The Beatles. They were an unforgettable musical group that touched many of their young fans permanently. Strawberry Fields is a monument that serves as a lasting tribute to one of the most beloved member of The Beatles, John Lennon.

Lennon's memory will forever live on, and a truly sacred place to reminisce about his life is located in New York City's Central Park. A beautifully landscaped paradise that reflects the memories which John left to his fans is spread over a tear shaped 2 1/2 acre area. Yoko Ono, John's widow, donated $1 million dollars to preserve his memorial and it's surrounding area.

The Central Park Conservancy had an architect named Bruce Kelly, who designed Strawberry Fields into a triangular section that contained trails, paths, benches, and inlaid stone. A "quiet zone" was also created which consists of walks through shrubbery and slopes with trees to shade the paths that weave through the landscape. The main walk is bordered by roses, magnolias, and other natural flowers.

The feature of Strawberry Fields that is perhaps the most memorable is the mosaic that is located at the west entrance. Designed donated by Italian craftsmen, the mosaic is visited by tens of thousand of people each year. In the middle of the mosaic is a single word, "Imagine." This of course, is inspired by one of John Lennon's songs that fans adore to this day.

John Lennon was murdered on December 8th, 1980 directly across from Central Park. Each anniversary of John's death, fans will congregate to sing his songs in Lennon's memory. Strawberry Fields is a testament to one of the greatest musical artists to ever live, one that music fans will forever remember.