Dene Slope
The Dene Slope, located along a steep hill on the west side of the landscape known as the Dene, is one of the area’s most prominent features.
The Central Park Conservancy has planted more than 50 species of native wildflowers and grasses here and the landscape serves as a habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. A trail provides access to the slope and rustic seating, which invites visitors to pause and enjoy the wildlife as well as the surrounding views. The meadow was completed in 2017 and took many years to establish—work that involved seeding, installing new irrigation infrastructure, and eliminating weeds. Native meadows are incredibly dynamic—each season is unique based on factors like the amount of sunlight and rainfall, and which seeds are spread by wind and wildlife.
Stroll in the Dene Slope
Join us as we walk through this vibrant meadow and year-round pollinator’s paradise.
The Dene Slope is part of the Dene, a quintessential Central Park landscape. Its name, an English word for “valley,” evokes its topography created by steep hills and dramatic rock outcrops that are popular among Park visitors for climbing and exploring.
Support the Park
Become an honorary gardener and keep Central Park blooming by contributing to the Conservancy’s work.
Also in the area
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Park History
From Alaska to Central Park: Balto the Siberian Husky
In January 1925, a deadly diphtheria epidemic threatened the children of Nome, Alaska. Medicine to stop the outbreak was in Anchorage, nearly 700 miles away. Twenty sled dog teams relayed the medicine from Nenana to Nome, by way of the Iditarod Trail, in just over five days. Balto, a hardy Siberian husky, led the final leg of the trip.
Tags: Monuments / Best for Kids / Art Lovers
Wildlife
From Central Park to Central Mexico: The Great Monarch Butterfly Migration
When it comes to skipping town—and the cold—Central Park’s monarch butterflies go the distance: a pilgrimage that starts in southern Canada and the northeastern United States and ends in Mexico.
Tags: Conservancy Staff / Spring / Flowers / Pollinators / Nature Lovers
Things to See and Do
What’s Blooming This Summer in Central Park
Tags: Summer / Flowers
Restoration and Maintenance
A Native Meadow in Progress, the Dene Slope Opens to the Public
Tags: Flowers / Pollinators
Restoration and Maintenance
A Look Back: Improving Central Park in 2017
Wildlife
Flying in Plain Sight: The Bats of Central Park
Nine species of bats live in New York State, and Central Park’s 843 acres of sprawling meadows, woodlands, and water bodies play a crucial role in their health.
Tags: Pollinators / Nature Lovers