Conservatory Water

From April through October, kids (and kids at heart) steer radio- and wind-powered model boats across Conservatory Water's glassy surface.

Each winter, conditions permitting, Conservatory Water turns into an ice-skating rink. Model boat rentals and a cafe can be found at the adjacent Kerbs Boathouse.

Visitors to Conservatory Water often recognize it as a highlight of E.B. White’s 1945 story, Stuart Little, and its 1999 film adaptation. This ornamental pond was originally constructed in 1858 as a reflecting pool for a glass conservatory, but the plan for the structure was abandoned. Instead, in the tradition of Parisian parks, it became a playground for model boats—and, consequently, one of the Park’s most beloved children’s attractions.