Strawberry Fields (memorial)

Area Memorial to John Lennon in Central Park

Inside Central Park near the Dakota, Strawberry Fields marks the John Lennon memorial and contains the ‘Imagine’ mosaic; visitors come to pay tribute, leave flowers and join occasional memorial gatherings.

Main image

Strawberry Fields is a landscaped memorial in Manhattan’s Central Park dedicated to John Lennon. The memorial was created and unveiled in the mid-1980s and features the central black-and-white “Imagine” mosaic.

The circular “Imagine” mosaic is the memorial’s focal point and is set within a planted, pedestrianized garden area that is kept deliberately calm and traffic-free. Visitors commonly pause at the mosaic, leave flowers and photographs, and use the area as a place for private remembrance.

Groups and solo visitors often assemble at the site on October 9 and December 8 for informal commemorations, and the memorial is immediately adjacent to the Dakota apartments where Lennon lived.

The site was created through a collaborative effort between Yoko Ono and New York City and opened to the public in 1985. The central mosaic was a gift from the city of Naples, Italy.

Sited in Central Park on the west side near West 72nd Street and Central Park West, the memorial is directly opposite the Dakota building and is accessible by several nearby subway stops on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

  • Commemoration dates: The memorial is frequently visited on John Lennon's birthday (October 9) and on the anniversary of his death (December 8), when fans gather at the mosaic.
  • Location and access: Located immediately west of the Dakota building on West 72nd Street, the site is a short walk from subway stations on the Upper West Side and is maintained as a quiet zone in Central Park.

What to See #

  • "Imagine" mosaic: The black-and-white stone mosaic inscribed "IMAGINE," a gift from Naples, Italy, forms the focal point of the memorial and sits at ground level within the landscaped plot.
  • Strawberry Fields landscaped area: The landscaped plot and pathways form a quiet, traffic-free area of Central Park bordered by West 72nd Street and adjacent to the Dakota apartment building.
Strawberry Fields (memorial)
Strawberry Fields, Central Park, near West 72nd Street and Central Park West, New York, NY, USA
40.7756, -73.9747
Open 24 hours (Central Park gates vary seasonally)
Free

How to Get to Strawberry Fields (memorial) #

From Midtown Manhattan, take the MTA subway to 72nd Street (B/C lines) and walk west to Central Park West; the memorial sits just inside the park across from the Dakota. From the east side of the park, walk west along transverse paths to 72nd Street. Street parking in the area is limited.

Tips for Visiting Strawberry Fields (memorial) #

  • Visit early morning or late evening to catch quieter moments and better light for photos of the mosaic 'Imagine'.
  • Respect the memorial's contemplative nature-lawn picnics and loud music are frowned upon by locals.
  • Combine a visit with a stroll through Central Park West and the Dakota building nearby for historic context.

Best Time to Visit Strawberry Fields (memorial) #

Anytime is possible, but mornings and late afternoons in spring and autumn combine pleasant weather with lower crowds.

Spring
April-June · 8-24°C
Blossoms and mild weather; crowds increase on sunny weekends.
Autumn
September-November · 5-18°C
Cool air, striking foliage along Central Park paths-excellent for reflective visits.

Weather & Climate near Strawberry Fields (memorial) #

Climate

Strawberry Fields (memorial)'s climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1213 mm/year), wettest in July, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
29°
Warmest Month
-4°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -4°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Freezing
C
Temperature
-4°

Weather

96 mm
Rainfall
4.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

February

February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-3°

Weather

77 mm
Rainfall
4.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
10°

Weather

106 mm
Rainfall
4.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

April

April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm).

Comfort

11°
Feels Like Cool
11°C
Temperature
16°

Weather

105 mm
Rainfall
4.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

May

May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm).

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
11° 22°

Weather

112 mm
Rainfall
4.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

June

June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
16° 26°

Weather

93 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 19°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (114 mm).

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
19° 29°

Weather

114 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

August

August is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm).

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Mild
24°C
Temperature
19° 28°

Weather

109 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

September

September is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm).

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
15° 24°

Weather

104 mm
Rainfall
3.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

October

October is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm).

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
18°

Weather

94 mm
Rainfall
4.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

November

November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°

Weather

107 mm
Rainfall
4.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

December

December is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1°

Weather

96 mm
Rainfall
4.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze

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