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The Central Park Conservancy – the nonprofit organization and civic institution responsible for managing Central Park – officially cut the ribbon on the new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, a transformative $160 million project that reimagines one of the most historically significant corners of Central Park.
The ceremony brought together elected officials, community stakeholders and project leadership to celebrate the completion of the most ambitious capital project in the Conservancy’s history. The Davis Center opened to the public on April 26th, offering a new model for equitable, community-centered design and programming in one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks. The project stands as a testament to the Central Park Conservancy’s deep partnership with the City of New York, generous donors, and the local community. Of the $160 million total, the City of New York contributed $60 million, while the Conservancy raised $100 million in private support and led the project’s design and construction.
Conceived as part of a larger re-envisioning of the site by the Central Park Conservancy’s landscape architecture team that builds on the recent restoration of the Ravine to the south, the Davis Center was designed by Susan T Rodriguez | Architecture • Design and Mitchell Giurgola Architects in collaboration with the Conservancy. The new facility fuses landscape and architecture to create a year-round, community-focused facility seamlessly integrated into the Park landscape. Built into the site’s natural topography with a sweeping green roof and panoramic views of the Harlem Meer, the Davis Center features a light-filled gathering space and a seasonally transforming pool and rink in the context of restored natural landscapes, including a reconstituted stream course and wetland edge. Sustainably designed for LEED Gold certification, the project represents a once-in-a-generation investment in park restoration, ecological renewal, and community equity. Learn more about the design here and the design leadership here.
“The opening of the Davis Center in Central Park is a shining example of what makes New York City more livable and the best place to raise a family,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “With a $60 million investment from the city and $100 million in private support, we’re creating spaces that bring communities together, support our families, and make our city stronger for generations to come.”
“Today is a joyful and deeply meaningful day for Central Park and for New York City. The opening of the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer is the result of years of listening, collaboration and bold belief in what this space could become. What once was a beloved but aging facility is now a beautiful, welcoming place that celebrates Central Park and welcomes New Yorkers to swim, skate, learn and connect – all year round,” said Betsy Smith, President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy. “We are incredibly proud of what this project represents: a Central Park that continues to evolve to meet the needs of the communities that surround it, and our commitment to ensuring every part of it serves the millions of visitors who enjoy it each year.”
Major philanthropic gifts include $40 million from Kathryn and Andrew Davis, for whose family the facility is named; $25 million from Thomas L. Kempner, Jr. and Katheryn C. Patterson, recognized through the naming of the Kempner Boardwalk; a significant contribution from David S. Gottesman and Ruth L. Gottesman, for whom the Gottesman Pool is named; and from The Carson Family Charitable Trust. The full donor sheet is here.
“The historic Harlem Meer is one of Central Park’s greatest gems, so I’m thrilled that the new Davis Center’s programming and facilities will offer endless ways for visitors to connect with the Meer. Between fitness activities, cultural events, and youth programs, the Davis Center has something for everyone, and I’m particularly thrilled that the center was designed with opportunities for the neighboring communities in mind,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “I’m proud that my office contributed $2.2 million to help construct the Davis Center and the stunning network of shoreline boardwalks that connect to it. Thank you to the Central Park Conservancy and countless supporters for this new year-round destination.”
“I’m thrilled to see the new Davis Center at Harlem Meer open this April, replacing the Lasker Rink with a vibrant, year-round hub for our community. As residents of the village of Harlem we can now enjoy programming that includes yoga, dance, and art workshops to ice skating, hockey, and summer swimming. This facility will offer something for everyone,” said Council Member Yusef Salaam. “I’m especially excited for the family-friendly celebration on the Harlem Oval, showcasing local talent and inviting all New Yorkers the opportunity to explore this transformative space. The Davis Center will strengthen Harlem’s spirit and bring us together through diverse, accessible programming.”
“The opening of the Davis Center is a landmark moment for Central Park and the surrounding communities,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “This extraordinary transformation honors the legacy of the Harlem Meer and delivers year-round access to recreation and programming. I’ve been proud to support this project from the beginning, and I’m thrilled to see it become a model for what community-focused public spaces can look like—a model that should be replicated whenever possible!”
The Davis Center will offer year-round, majority free and low-cost programming for all ages, operated by the Conservancy, NYC Parks, and other community non-profits. Programming is generously funded by lead donors JPMorganChase, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Philip & Alicia Hammarskjold, and Paula and Jeffrey Gural.
Programming highlights include:
•Spring & Fall (Harlem Oval): Yoga and meditation with Multitasking Yogi, dance classes with Go Hard Dance!, art workshops with Harlem School of the Arts, birding tours with NYC Bird Alliance, lawn games on the green, and school field days.
•Winter (Ice Rink): Community ice time, skating and hockey lessons for all ages, league play, and dedicated programming for local partners like Figure Skating in Harlem, the Central Park North Stars, and the American Special Hockey Association.
•Summer (Gottesman Pool): Operated by NYC Parks, community swim, free Learn to Swim lessons, and other aquatic programs will be offered from late June through early September.
•Ongoing: Guided tours and discovery walks of the Park’s northern landscapes and pilot educational programming for local schools focused on Central Park’s ecology and history.
The Conservancy’s work in the Park’s north end has been ongoing since its founding in the 1980s, with the restorations of the Harlem Meer, one of the first major projects, occurring in 1989. The Conservancy has invested over $310 million into the Park north of 97th Street over the past four decades – approximately one third of the Conservancy’s total investments into Central Park.
The Davis Center at the Harlem Meer was first announced in 2019 and construction began in 2021. From the earliest stages of this project, the Conservancy has taken a community-first approach from the start, building upon strong existing relationships with local leaders, community groups, and elected officials to ensure that the Davis Center reflects the community’s needs and contemporary uses. There has been extensive dialogue with the community at every step of the process.
The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization that manages Central Park and is responsible for raising the Park’s annual operating budget. The Conservancy’s staff of 400 is responsible for all aspects of the Park’s stewardship, from day-to-day maintenance and operations to continued restoration and rebuilding projects. Additionally, the Conservancy operates the Park’s visitor centers, provides public programs, and serves as a resource for other NYC parks and for public-private partnerships around the world. For more information, please visit centralparknyc.org.
