Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (East Side at 110th Street)

Located on the north shore of the Harlem Meer is the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, a visitor center run by the Central Park Conservancy.
The Conservancy offers free educational and community programs, exhibits, tours, and holiday celebrations at the Dana Discovery Center. While the building looks historic, the Dana Center is Central Park’s newest building. It was constructed in 1993 as part of a major restoration of the Harlem Meer.
The Dana Discovery Center offers Discovery Kits, Lawn Games, and Catch-and-Release fishing pole rentals for free. To make group reservations, please fill out this Dana Center Group Reservation Request form.
Things you can do here

Arts & Entertainment
Harlem Meer Summer Festival: Music on the Inside (MOTI)
2:00 pmJoin us this summer at the Harlem Meer!
Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

Events
26th Annual Central Park Holiday Lighting
Celebrate the season with our 26th Annual Holiday Lighting in Central Park! Meet Santa and friends, sing carols on the Plaza, and warm up with hot cocoa while enjoying a variety of seasonal activities. The event concludes with lighting a flotilla of trees on the Harlem Meer.
Tags: Best for Kids / Kids and Families

Events
Halloween Entertainment and Activities
Come dressed in your Halloween costume and join us for crafts, not-so-spooky stories from our friends at the New York Public Library, and magical entertainment from Rogue the Magician.
Tags: Staff Picks / Kids and Families

Activities
Open to All: The Story of Central Park’s Gates
Visit the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center to learn the story of Central Park’s original entrances and examine how they welcome visitors into this space.
Tags: Staff Picks
Arts & Entertainment
Harlem Meer Summer Festival: Pia Paez
2:00 pmJoin us this summer at the Harlem Meer!
Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

Tours
The North Woods Tour
11:00 amEscape the chaos of New York City in Central Park’s North Woods, an idyllic woodland oasis showcasing cascades, streams, and thriving greenery.
Tags: Art & Architecture / Wildlife / Plants and Trees

Guides
A Guide to the Perfect Central Park Date
New Yorkers and visitors alike often regard Central Park as one of the City’s most romantic destinations. We’ve put together a guide to the Park’s most magical places to bring your beloved.

Activities
Discovery Kits
Young explorers are invited to borrow an official Central Park Conservancy Discovery Kit or take away a complimentary Discovery Journal from our visitor centers!
Tags: Kids and Families

Activities
Lawn Games
Borrow a variety of lawn games like bocce ball, horseshoes, kubb, cornhole and ring toss, for outdoor play in fair weather!
Tags: Kids and Families / Health & Fitness

Activities
Catch-and-Release Fishing
Tags: Kids and Families
Arts & Entertainment
Harlem Meer Summer Festival: Luisito Rey y La Dinamica
2:00 pmJoin us this summer at the Harlem Meer!
Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

Arts & Entertainment
Harlem Meer Summer Festival: Sing Harlem!
2:00 pmJoin us this summer at the Harlem Meer!
Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

Guides
Picnic Guide
Central Park is home to lawns, benches, and picnic tables across its 843 acres, providing countless great picnic spots.
Tags: Kids and Families / Wildlife

Events
Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla
Drop off your carved pumpkin and find a spot along the edge of the Harlem Meer to watch as the jack-o-lanterns float by. It’s New York’s largest pumpkin flotilla—and it’s not to be missed!
Tags: Staff Picks / Kids and Families

Tours
Hidden Highlights of the North End Tour
10:00 amLace up your comfortable walking shoes for an energetic hike through Central Park’s north end!
Tags: History / Art & Architecture
Also in the area
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Park History
Harlem Meer Performance Festival Nears 30 Years of Music and Dance
Since 1993, the Harlem Meer Performance Festival has been a cultural cornerstone of the community surrounding the north end of Central Park.
Tags: Summer

Programs and Events
The Hair-Raising History of the Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla
The Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla returns to the Harlem Meer in late October with family-friendly entertainment, crafts, and more.
Tags: Fall / Best for Kids