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

  • Events

    Halloween on the Harlem Meer

    Watch the Harlem Meer get spooky! Join us for a host of FREE family-friendly activities and an enchanting pumpkin flotilla. Costumes encouraged!

    Tags: Staff Picks / For Groups / Kids and Families

  • Tours

    Hidden Highlights of the North End Tour

    11:00 am

    Lace up your comfortable walking shoes for an energetic hike through Central Park’s north end!

    Tags: History / Art & Architecture

  • Arts & Entertainment

    Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Sound Bridges

    Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

  • Arts & Entertainment

    Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Lost Soul Found

    Lost Soul Found, an eleven-piece band that plays the music of Earth Wind & Fire, the Ohio Players, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Santana, Tower of Power, and other funk, soul and R&B artists of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

    Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

  • Tours

    The North Woods Tour

    11:00 am

    Escape 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

  • Tours

    Members Exclusive: Birding Basics: North Woods

    Breathe in the crisp fall air as you explore this vibrant natural habitat and learn to spot and identify birds with a knowledgeable Conservancy guide by your side.

    Tags: Member Event / For Members

  • 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

  • Tour

    Discovery Walks for Families: Harlem Meer

    Go back in time and explore the changing Harlem Meer landscape. Learn about its history and discover the plants and animals that live in its waters today.

  • 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 on the Harlem Meer

    4:00 pm

    Watch the Harlem Meer get spooky! Join us for a host of FREE family-friendly activities, a pumpkin patch, and an enchanting pumpkin flotilla. Costumes encouraged!

    Tags: Staff Picks / Kids and Families

  • Events

    Annual Central Park Holiday Lighting

    Celebrate the season at our Annual Holiday Lighting in Central Park.

    Tags: Best for Kids / 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

  • For Members

    Members Exclusive: North Woods Tour

    Tags: Membership Perks / Member Event

  • Kids & Families

    Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Despers USA Steel Orchestra

    Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

  • Kids & Families

    Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Clean Money Music

    Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

  • Arts & Entertainment

    Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Spanglish Fly

    Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

  • Activities

    Catch-and-Release Fishing

    Borrow fishing poles for catch-and-release fishing in the Harlem Meer.

    Tags: Kids and Families

  • Kids & Families

    Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Johnny Rodriguez and the Dream Team

    Tags: Families / Summer / All Ages / First-Time Visitors

  • Tours

    Birding Basics: The North Woods

    11:00 am
    Trained guides take visitors on an exploration of the North Woods, while sharing tips and tricks for spotting and identifying birds.

    Tags: Seasonal

  • Events

    Halloween on the Harlem Meer

    4:00 pm

    Watch the Harlem Meer get spooky! Join us for a host of FREE family-friendly activities, a pumpkin patch, and an enchanting pumpkin flotilla. Costumes encouraged!

    Tags: Staff Picks / Kids and Families

    • 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