Green spaces have cooling affects around them, so all sides benefit if it’s in the center
That had nothing to do with the decision to raze Seneca Village to make room for the park the bigots wanted, FYI.
Seneca Village - Wikipedia

No way… They were definitely doing this because of the environment and cooling zones in 1857! /s
And because of states’ rights
Well, you just going to sit there complaining? Or are we going to do something? Grab a shovel and a plasma cutter, we have buildings to move!
Ah, no one told you… Central Park sits where an affluent black community once existed (Seneca village), but was seized using eminent domain and razed.
As is tradition.
… Can’t let black people build something nice.
Clicked through to comment this. Thank you for your service. ✊🏼

Pretty sure I read it was placed where the affluent black community was and displaced them. Because racism.

Had the wealthy black families been on the Hudson River we’d probably have left side park instead.

Like like left side has a decent park.
And there’s no “left” on a map. 🙃
Kind of important to note that this concept is especially important since the longitudinal axis of Manhattan is not exactly north-to-south. I guess you could take a port-starboard approach, but compass directions and street names are just so much easier.
West is on the left if facing North.
Honestly if it were on the shore there would be no end of developers clamoring to build into the park or at least along the shore edge of the park. The park would be whittled down to a few spots with a view available to thr general public. Eventually some politician would cave to campaign donations from a wealthy developer.