The New Davis Center

The transformation of the Lasker Rink and Pool site on the Harlem Meer is the most significant and complex project ever undertaken by the Conservancy. It represents the culmination of our work to re-establish the north end of the Park as a vital resource for the surrounding community. The fully accessible Davis Center now offers new and enhanced outdoor activities and provides unhindered access across the north end of the Park—both by reconnecting the watercourse that travels through the Ravine, allowing it to run unobstructed from the Pool into the Meer, and re-establishing the pedestrian path that was once alongside it.

With ongoing input from our community and interested user groups, we designed this state-of-the-art facility to reflect both our visitors’ priorities and the spirit of Central Park’s original purpose. The new-and-improved Davis Center invites expanded recreational and leisure activities, helps us engage more deeply with our Park neighbors, and offers more ways for the community to enjoy this diverse and beautiful naturalistic setting in the heart of New York.

About the Restoration

The new Davis Center provides:

• Year-round free and low-cost programming and expanded recreational opportunities, with increased access to nature
• Enhanced swimming and skating, including a full-scale ice rink, a larger-than-Olympic-size pool, and a new outdoor spray pad
• Year-round access to restrooms and amenities and more community programming
• A boardwalk through freshwater marsh plantings at the edge of the water body
• Unhindered access across the north end of the Park

The design was led by the Central Park Conservancy and Susan T. Rodriguez Architecture & Design in collaboration with Mitchell Giurgola.

Learn more about the Davis Center's full offerings and programmings, amenities, and frequently asked questions.

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