NEW YORK—As New Yorkers dig out from another record-breaking snowfall, the Central Park Conservancy is gearing up for the start of spring with a month of public events. Hop on the ice before Gottesman Rink closes for the season, apply to showcase your talents at this summer’s Harlem Meer Performance Festival, or attend upcoming conversations with community partners on design and preservation.
Media wishing to cover any event must RSVP to [email protected].
LAST CHANCE TO ICE SKATE
The Gottesman Rink at the Davis Center closes for the 2025-2026 season on Sunday, March 8. Don’t miss the final Community Skate sessions – purchase tickets on the Davis Center’s website! The closing celebration will include two skating sessions, a live DJ, special ice performances, warm snacks for purchase from Settepani, and fun swag to commemorate Gottesman Rink’s unforgettable first season.
Skate Season Finale at the Davis Center
Sunday, March 8, 3:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Tickets $10, available HERE
LOOK AHEAD TO SUMMER SONG
Through March 30, the Central Park Conservancy encourages local artists to apply to the 2026 Harlem Meer Performance Festival (HMPF). The summer series takes place outside at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, against a stunning backdrop of the Harlem Meer. Since 1993, the HMPF has showcased local talent and offered free, family-friendly programming to the Harlem community and beyond.
Last year, the Conservancy welcomed over 3,600 attendees to sing, dance, and join the fun – complete a submission by March 30 through the online application for this year’s festival!
DESIGN AND MEMORY IN CENTRAL PARK
This month, the Central Park Conservancy will co-host two events designed to shed light on how design is harnessed to serve the Park’s tens of millions of visitors each year. Join a Madame Architect-led event at the Davis Center or listen in on a conversation with the Urban Design Forum and the Conservancy’s Seneca Village team at the Museum for the City of New York.
Madame Architect Presents: The Davis Center
Tuesday, March 3, 6:00 pm
Free, register HERE
On Tuesday, March 3, the Central Park Conservancy’s President & CEO Betsy Smith and Davis Center architect Susie Rodriguez will join Julia Gamolina of Madame Architect to discuss design, community, and process for the largest project in the Conservancy’s history.
Shaping Public Memory in NYC Public Parks
Wednesday, March 25, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Museum of the City of New York
Free, register HERE
On March 25, join the Central Park Conservancy in partnership with the Urban Design Forum for Shaping Public Memory in NYC Public Parks. Jessica MacLean, Conservancy Historian, will join peers in arts, design, and research to discuss the process for memorials and monuments in public spaces. This event is part of Seneca Village: Toward a Permanent Commemoration, an ongoing program series funded by the Mellon Foundation.
Please contact [email protected] to cover Gottesman Rink’s closing celebration, to attend any public events, or to experience the Park's story firsthand – and stay warm out there!
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About the Central Park Conservancy
The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization that manages Central Park and is responsible for raising the Park's annual operating budget. The Conservancy’s staff of 400 is responsible for all aspects of the Park’s stewardship, from day-to-day maintenance and operations to continued restoration and rebuilding projects. Additionally, the Conservancy operates the Park’s visitor centers, provides public programs, and serves as a resource for other NYC parks and for public-private partnerships around the world. For more information, please visit centralparknyc.org.