Central Park's Great Lawn might again be used for large public demonstrations rather than solely for events staged with help from the wealthy or corporations, lawyers for two civil rights groups said after a settlement with the city was announced Tuesday.

A court battle over the right to demonstrate on Central Park's Great Lawn has underscored an astounding fact. In the heart of the nation's largest and arguably most opinionated city, there is no place to hold a large rally.

A battle over whether the Great Lawn in Central Park is open to political protesters as well as opera is headed to a jury trial.

When city officials denied demonstrators access to the Great Lawn in Central Park during the 2004 Republican National Convention, political advocates and ordinary New Yorkers accused Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of squelching demonstrations that could embarrass fellow Republicans during their gathering.