Our restoration of the Conservatory Garden will focus on its hardscape—pavements, retaining walls, and stairs—almost all original to the Garden’s 1937 construction.
Originally conceived by Central Park designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as an arboretum, the site of the Conservatory Garden was initially a nursery for growing plants for the Park. By the late 1880s, greenhouses were built on site, followed shortly by an ornate glass conservatory (the origin of the Conservatory Garden’s name). After falling into disrepair, the conservatory was demolished in the early 1930s — and the six-acre formal outdoor garden that we now know was conceived and built.
Located off Fifth Avenue between East 104th and 106th Streets, the Garden comprises three spaces: a French-style North Garden, Italianate Center Garden, and English-style South Garden. Known for its horticultural excellence, the Garden’s ornamental plantings are well-maintained year-round. Conservancy staff curate annual displays throughout the Garden, which opens and closes daily to the public.
The North Garden
The last significant restoration of the Conservatory Garden was in 1983. It focused primarily on restoring its tour-de-force horticultural elements. Today, diminished by decades of wear and tear, the Garden requires additional upgrades and repairs.
Our upcoming restoration will largely focus on improving the Garden’s hardscapes, which are almost all original to the 1937 construction. This includes the extensive network of paths and plazas that gracefully traverse the Garden, as well as other much-needed infrastructure upgrades.
The Wisteria Pergola in the Center Garden
Our work will include:
- Creating universal accessibility into the sunken North Garden by converting stairs to ramps
- Restoring the Garden’s distinctive bluestone pavements
- Extensively upgrading infrastructure and modernizing fountain systems
- Refurbishing the Garden’s unique architectural and decorative features, including a full restoration of the Wisteria Pergola
- Improving drainage to minimize runoff from adjacent landscapes into the Garden
- Restoring benches, replacing and realigning retaining walls and stairs, and reconstructing other design elements
- Ensuring all aspects of the Garden meet current code requirements
Construction will be completed in phases and last approximately two years.
The crabapple allée in the Center Garden
Nearby Projects
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Reconstruction of Bernard Family Playground
Our reconstruction of Bernard Family Playground introduced new and enhanced play features and met current accessibility and safety standards. -
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Robert Bendheim Playground Renovation
Our renovation of Bendheim Playground included meeting current safety and accessibility standards, fixing items that are in disrepair, and reviving the landscape character.
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Reconstruction of the East 110th Street Playground
As part of our reconstruction of the East 110th Street Playground, we created accessible routes to the playground and restored the surrounding lawns and plantings. These changes further integrated the playground within the northern Park landscape. -
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Rebuilding Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink and Pool)
We will be rebuilding the former Lasker Rink and Pool to better integrate into the landscape, offer new and enhanced outdoor activities, and increase access for communities around the north end of Central Park.
