John Lennon Memorial in Central Park

Strawberry Fields is the memorial to John Lennon. It is located in Central Park, between 71st and 74th Streets, near the Dakota Apartments where John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived. The area in the park is tear shaped. It is named Strawberry Fields for the song “Strawberry Fields Forever”, which Lennon sung with Paul McCartney. It features a Imagine mosaic, donated by the city of Naples. A peace symbol is on the mosaic. The symbol is formed by an arrangement of flowers and strawberries.

Bruce Kelly, chief landscape architect for the Central Park Conservancy, designed the Central Park Lennon Memorial. Yoko Ono dedicated Strawberry Fields on October 9, 1985, which would have been John Lennon's 45th birthday.

The focal point of the memorial is a circular pathway mosaic of inlaid stones. In the center of the mosaic is the word “Imagine”, the title of Lennon's famous song. The triangular area around the mosaic has benches which are endowed in memory to other persons. Several nations contributed to building this memorial. They are listed on a bronze plaque designating the memorial as a Garden of Peace.

A series of open and secret glades are the heart of the mosaic. They consist of lawn and glacier carved rocks. A quiet zone is designated by shrubs and trees along the woodland slopes. Wild shrub roses and pink Magnolias line the main walk. The northern tip of the lawns has three Dawn Redwood trees. They lose their needles every year, but regain them in the spring. This is a symbol of eternal renewal.

Persons often leave flowers, candles, and other mementos at the memorial. Others gather on his birthday or the day of his death to sing songs. Other musicians have gathered to pay tribute also.