All around New York our residents are always stumbling upon unique facts about our state that they never even knew existed, and the Big Apple is no exception! One of the most famous parks we have in our territory, Central Park has plenty of mysteries and hidden facts scattered all across the 843 acres of land it covers. Ready to see how much you truly know about one of the most filmed locations in the world? Here are 10 secrets you never knew existed about Central Park:

1. Central Park was the first landscaped public park to be created in America!

First is the worst? Says who! Created with help of our wealthy residents, the people of New York urged that our state needed to have something unique and worth recognizing internationally.

2. Feeling lost? Turn to the helpful lamps of Central Park.

No, this isn't some urban version of The Wizard of Oz where the lamp posts are going to come alive and help to point you in the right direction. This little secret will actually come in handy! Across Central Park you'll find lamp posts with letters and numbers on them, the first two symbols of which will indicate which street you're closest to!

3. You can adopt a bench...for $10,000!

Inside Central Park you'll find over 9,000 benches that need to be cared for. If you're interested in helping fund some of the maintenance that goes into these useful benches, you can Adopt-A-Bench and have your own personalized plaque for just a mere $10,000. No big deal, right?

4. Our beautiful Belvedere Castle didn't always look so picturesque.

Sadly, back during the 1960s and 1970s, our well-known park wasn't shining so brightly with beauty. Financial struggles and illegal activities left Central Park to turn into a place far from worth visiting. Luckily by the 1980s, our residents joined together in realization that this wonderful park needed saving. No longer covered in graffiti, Belvedere Castle now serves as a wonderful visitors center where you can achieve amazing views of the park.

5. All of the flowers found inside Shakespeare Garden can be found in poet's works of art.

Flowers growing all throughout the year, the 4-acre garden in our big park is dedicated to the literary genius himself, William Shakespeare. Every flower you can find in this garden has been mentioned in one of Shakespeare's plays or poems!

6. The Great Lawn was once a reservoir!

That's right! Where so many visitors love to enjoy the wide open space, the large and rectangular Croton Reservoir once stood. Not a part of the original plan for Central Park, the 55-acre lawn has become one of the most iconic features of our famous park.

7. Rumor has it that the Central Park Carousel was once powered by live animals.

While the park has seen several carousels throughout its history, it is said that the one you could find in the park during the late 1800s and early 1900s was actually powered by live animals! While you would've seen a person controlling the ride, there was supposedly a live donkey or even horse that was inside the carousel giving power to the entire thing and really running the show.

8. You may have never noticed, but Strawberry Fields is actually in the shape of a teardrop.

Another one of our parks most iconic areas, the 2.5 acre piece of Central Park was made in dedication to John Lennon. If you had the ability to achieve a bird's-eye view of Strawberry Fields you'd be able to see that it is actually in the shape of a tear drop.

9. Out of all 843 acres, there is only one straight line that runs inside Central Park.

Strange but true, The Mall of Central Park is the only actual intentional straight line running inside of the park. How this happened you may ask? Curved roads were created in the park during its beginning stages to help prevent horse and carriage races!

10. Possibly one of the last places you'd think to look, the park has gorgeous waterfalls hiding throughout it.

Anyone up for some urban waterfalls? All being completely man-made, you can find at least five stunning waterfalls inside Central Park!

Did you know any of these secrets of Central Park? Share with Only In New York which thing on this list you found to be the most interesting!