[2] The series premiered on May 29, 2020, and revolves around a family living in Central Park in New York City who must save it from a greedy land developer.

[5] Told through the eyes of a fourth wall-aware busker narrator, named Birdie, the musical series tells the story of the Tillerman–Hunter family who live in Edendale Castle in Central Park.

Their lives change when an elderly heiress and entrepreneur named Bitsy Brandenham and her frequently abused assistant Helen plot to buy up all the land in Central Park and turn it into more condominiums, shops, and restaurants as a way of getting back at the world.

In Molly's comic book world, Fista Puffs is trying to stop a monster at the museum ("The Fistapuffs Theme Song"), however it is a simulation and she somehow is unable to resolve it.

Paige tells an embarrassing story about how she threw up in a friend's mouth while riding a roller coaster to cheer her up, but Molly goes back upstairs disappointed.

Bitsy, as usual, shows little to no compassion or concern for what has transpired and is further put off when a former officer, now insurance claimer named Hank Zevansky comes with the intent to solve the case.

The woman dies, but Birdie is comforted by the nurse and later by a little boy who dances to his music as he quietly returns to busking ("A Moment Forever Ago (End Credits)").

As he mulls the idea over, the family begin to play with building block toys and decide to create their own ideal future should Owen take the job.

Molly imagines that she would be a janitor at the University with dreams of being an artist ("Paint the World"), before creating an extraordinary drawing that advances her career in life; her inspiration being Owen.

To his surprise, the rest of the family is happy as they all realize that they cannot leave their favorite things behind and continue playing with the blocks while Birdie sums up the moral ("A Different Paige End Credit").

On a sudden snow day, Birdie loses his violin and his memories in which he cannot tell the story due to the park being in the process of getting sold ("Up to Here").

After Paige publishes her exposé on Mayor Whitebottom, he suddenly announces his resignation; implying that he plans to use the last ounce of his power to sell the park to Bitsy.

Helen figures out that Champagne ate the boeuf and the chef confirms it, but reveals that a steak sauce was added that would have killed Ambrose.

They realize that Anton tried to switch the steak, so he could sell it while Kendra added the sauce so that Bitsy would be blamed for killing Ambrose (the two of them were lovers this whole time).

Bitsy reluctantly thanks Abby for helping her out while Paige tells her that she is okay with her keeping her job at the Brandenham ("A Positive Light (End Credit)").

[20] Loren Bouchard had defended this casting at a January 2020 TCA panel, stating that Bell "needed to be Molly, she was always going to honor that character.

[7] Bell returned to the show in season three in the role of Abby, Paige's sister and an aspiring actress newly arrived in New York.

[24] Songs in the first season were written by such artists as Fiona Apple, Meghan Trainor, Cyndi Lauper, Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, Darren Criss, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Aimee Mann.

The website's critical consensus reads, "With warmth, wit, and a pitch perfect ensemble, Central Park is a joyously hilarious musical love letter to the Big Apple.

The website's critical consensus states, "Featuring more stellar songs and a tenderhearted focus on family, Central Park is even more delightful in this reprise.