The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center provides environmental education and activities. It is also one of four visitor centers in Central Park.

Perched on the northern shore of the Harlem Meer is Central Park's newest building — the first in its history to be built specifically as a visitor center.  The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center opened to the public in 1993 and offers a wide variety of the Conservancy's free education and community programs, seasonal exhibits, and holiday celebrations.   

Catch-and-Release Fishing

Catch-and-release fishing at the Harlem Meer has become a favorite family and community pastime. The Discovery Center provides poles, unbarbed hooks, and bait.  Learn more about the Central Park Conservancy's Catch-and-Release Fishing program here.

Family and Community Programs

Adjacent to the Discovery Center is a small plaza where many community programs take place.  These include the Harlem Meer Performance Festival, the Halloween Pumpkin Sail of candlelit jack o'lanterns across the Meer, the annual Holiday Lighting event, and Family Friday programs from January - March. Learn more about family and community programs at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center here.

Sailing pumpkins on the Harlem Meer in celebration of Halloween

Location

• Inside the Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues

Details

• Visitor Center offering Family and Community Programs
• Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesday - Sunday from April through October, and Wednesday - Sunday from November through March
• Phone: 212-860-1370