The Gates Augmented Reality Experience in Central Park
On my most recent walk with our dog in Central Park, I stumbled upon a new sign near The Boathouse.
A tall, standalone alert with a QR code. I love a QR code in the wild!
After scanning the QR code I wasn’t still entirely sure about what was being presented here… Some type of augmented reality experience about gates?
Little did I know… 👇
The Gates in Central Park Backstory
In February 2005, Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s The Gates was an actual art experience (no phone needed) laid out in Central Park.
It included 7,503 orange gates with flowing fabric spread out across 23 miles of Central Park. This behemoth of an art endeavor garnered over 4 million visitors to the park!
According to The Shed, the lifespan of this project from conception to completion was around 25 years. During the same time that the AR (Augmented Reality) experience will be active in Central Park, February 12 – March 23, 2025, you can head to The Shed in Hudson Yards to take a deep dive into Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Gates, and all it desired to represent.
For more pictures and backstory about The Gates, head here.
The Gates Augmented Reality (AR) Experience Central Park Details
If you see the signs in Central Park and scan the QR code right now, it doesn’t give you much information. I’m sure that will change when things go “live”, but here’s what you need to know.
You will need the Bloomberg Connects App to experience the art.
When Is The Gates AR Experience Taking Place?
As stated above, The Shed AR experience will be available to view in Central Park from February 12, 2025 until March 23, 2025. It will be viewable during daylight hours due to the nature of augmented reality.
Where Is The Gates AR Experience in Central Park?
While the original The Gates art installation covered almost the entirety of Central Park, the augmented reality will cover only a fraction, mostly near Bethesda Fountain.
Here’s a map of The Gates.
The Gates Experience Central Park Recap
While we’re excited about this art installation, it does make you wonder how valuable AR art can actually be. But I guess it’s more eco-friendly and likely loads cheaper than building 7,503 gates in Central Park.
Let us know if you check it out!
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Devin Stagg
As long-time lovers of New York City we made the plunge to move across the country to NYC in early 2021... with our 3 dogs at the time (RIP Buddy). We consider ourself experts in exploring new restaurants, finding the best-rated bars, and activities actually worth doing. Plus, my Google Maps organizational skills are 2nd to none. 😜
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