Seneca Village: Toward a Permanent Commemoration

The Central Park Conservancy, with generous support from the Mellon Foundation, is undertaking a major initiative that will support the long-term goal of permanently commemorating Seneca Village in Central Park.

This year, the 200th anniversary of the inception of Seneca Village, the Conservancy launched a multiyear program series aimed at deepening understanding of this thriving pre-Park community, encouraging new ways of thinking about commemoration, and fostering constructive dialogue about the intersection of race and history in public spaces. The series will culminate with the development of a community-informed framework for the permanent commemoration of Seneca Village in Central Park.

On March 13, 2025, the Conservancy held the inaugural event of this program series: Seneca Village: Toward a Permanent Commemoration, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. We highlighted the legacy of Seneca Village and set the stage for the series. If you were unable to attend, we encourage you to watch the event recording (below).