Meet Central Park’s Newest Gem: The Davis Center at Harlem Meer is Open for Families!
There is nothing quite like Central Park for a fun day out, and now there is a brand new section of the park that will keep the fun going. The Davis Center at Harlem Meer opened this past weekend, bringing a big boost of good energy to a quieter corner of the park. With updated amenities and new family programs, it’s quickly becoming a place to check out, especially for those who don’t usually make it up to this part of the park. The brand new Davis Center sits at the northeastern edge of Central Park, right where Harlem meets the water.
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This $160 million project has been coming for a long time, with years of planning behind it. The goal was to make the park more accessible and welcoming to everyone. The Davis Center aims to bring people together through nature, fun activities, and community. It’s all part of the Central Park Conservancy’s ongoing push to make sure every part of the park is open, welcoming, and works for all New Yorkers.
The facility has great family features, like a pool that turns into an ice rink in the winter, a flexible turf field called the Harlem Oval, and both open-air and indoor spaces perfect for gatherings and programs all year long. With a strong emphasis on making things accessible to the community, most activities are either free or low-cost. There will be yoga, dance classes, skating, art workshops and more.
The Focus Is on Community
The Davis Center project has been in the works for over seven years and has included input from neighborhood stakeholders, community groups, and city leaders. It was funded through a combination of public and private contributions, $60 million from the City of New York and $100 million raised by the Conservancy.
“This re-imagined space reconnects the Harlem community with this beloved park while providing a vibrant, year-round hub for recreation and education,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Thanks to the collaboration between the Central Park Conservancy, the city, and local stakeholders, the Davis Center now stands as an example of what it looks like to put community voices at the heart of design.”
There’s a Lot to Do at The Davis Center
Now that the Davis Center is up and running, spring programming is in full swing. With a focus on being flexible and community-friendly, it’s already got a bunch of activities lined up for kids, teens, and adults.
Local instructors will lead spring and Fall yoga and meditation sessions. Go Hard Dance! will also offer high-energy dance classes where participants of all ages can get active and have fun. For children and families with a creative streak, the Harlem School of the Arts will offer hands-on art workshops.
There are also nature-focused programs, like birding tours led by the NYC Bird Alliance, that give people a chance to explore the wildlife and learn about the ecology of the restored Harlem Meer shoreline.
This summer, the Gottesman Pool is scheduled to open in late June and will be run by NYC Parks. The pool will offer free Learn to Swim lessons along with open swim sessions. In the winter, the pool turns into an ice rink. Families can look forward to open skate sessions, hockey and skating lessons, and special programs in partnership with groups, including Figure Skating in Harlem and the American Special Hockey Association.
Find current program schedules and updates at centralparknyc.org.
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