North of the Loeb Boathouse is the backyard of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the east at 81st Street and the Obelisk to the west, an 1881 gift from Egypt that dates back to 1450 BC. Also nearby is the Great Lawn , recently reopened after a massive two-year, $18.5 million renewal program. Now reseeded, it hosts free New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera concerts. The lawn features eight softball fields and, at its northern end, new basketball and volleyball courts, and a 1/8-mile running track.
Southwest of the Great Lawn is the Delacorte Theater , site of the annual free Shakespeare in the Park festivals. Next door, the tranquil Shakespeare Garden claims to hold every species of plant mentioned in the Bard's plays. East of the garden is Belvedere Castle , a mock medieval citadel first erected in 1869 as a lookout, but now the home of the Urban Park Rangers (who provide walking tours and educational programs). The highest point in the park, and a wonderful viewpoint, the castle also houses the NY Meteorological Observatory's weather center, which provides the "official" Central Park temperature of the day, and makes for a lovely backdrop for the Delacorte's performances.