Filmed during a revitalization of the “man-made and man-tended” refuge in, as a minister puts it, “the midst of one of the most awesome cities in the world,” Central Park demonstrates the myriad ways people utilize such a government institution, and the labor that goes into maintaining it. Arborists, bricklayers, and lawn mowers are in constant motion, while fundraisers pivot toward private capital to supplement the budget. An appearance of the inaugural tour of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, musical performances by Luciano Pavarotti and Midnight Oil, and a surprising filmmaker cameo capture the era, as does the compulsion for celebratory balloon releases.