Harlem Meer

Central Park designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux named this man-made water body "the Meer" — Dutch for “lake.” It was a nod to the 17th Century European settlers who first inhabited the village of Harlem.

Today, families flock to this area for catch-and-release fishing, skating and swimming at Lasker Rink and Pool, and exploration at two nearby playgrounds. The Harlem Meer is also a thriving wildlife habitat and home to fish, turtles, and waterfowl. Several varieties of trees, including oak, bald cypress, beech and gingko, surround it.

On the northern shore of the Meer stands the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, a visitor center run by the Central Park Conservancy. The Center hosts free community programs, seasonal exhibits, and holiday celebrations. There’s also live music on the plaza in the summer.