Summer Guide
Dust off those picnic blankets, grab your SPF, and step into the magic of summer in Central Park!
Whether you’re planning to set a PR around the newly restored Reservoir running track or prefer laid-back lawn lounging with family and friends, the Central Park Conservancy’s Summer Guide is here to help you have an unforgettable season.
Don't forget to stay in the loop on all things Central Park! Follow us on social media and tag us from the Park @CentralParkNYC as you enjoy the sunshine.
Activities to Explore
Check out our interactive summer map, curated by Central Park Conservancy experts to help you enjoy the bright months ahead. From lively summer activities to picturesque picnic spots, find everything you’ll need for fun-filled days in the Park.
Better Than a Beach Read
Just because school’s out for the summer doesn’t mean learning has to stop! Explore these summer reads or head to our magazine for more deep dives into the history, landscapes, and art of NYC’s backyard.
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Health and Fitness
Embracing Wellness Outdoors: 5 Benefits of Being in Nature
Summer is the perfect time to experience the positive impact that natural outdoor spaces have on our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. From the benefits of birdsong to the magic of movement, discover five fascinating ways time spent in Central Park can contribute to your overall wellbeing.Tags: Park Design / Nature Lovers / Plants and Trees / Landscapes
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Park Information
What Is Biodiversity?
Get in touch with the Park’s complex ecosystems this season! Amid a significant reduction in global biodiversity, thriving urban ecosystems are essential to the health and resilience of highly developed areas. Learn what biodiversity is and its importance in Central Park.Tags: Conservancy Staff / Park Design / Flowers / Pollinators / About the Conservancy / Trees / Highlights / Nature Lovers / Park Experts / Landscape Design / Wildlife / Plants and Trees / Landscapes / Restoration and Maintenance
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Plants and Trees
The Fight to Save Central Park’s Iconic American Elm Trees
Did you know the Mall & Literary Walk is home to one of the largest and last remaining collections of American elm trees in the world? Learn all about American elms in Central Park and how our team of arborists works diligently to protect them against Dutch elm disease.Tags: Conservancy Staff / Park Design / About the Conservancy / Trees / Highlights / Nature Lovers / Park Experts / Plants and Trees / Landscapes / Restoration and Maintenance
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About the Conservancy
Urban Wildlife in Central Park: Understanding our Human Impact and the Hazards of Feeding Wild Animals
Feeding urban wildlife may seem like a kind gesture, but it can often do more harm than good. Pizza Rat may have gone viral, but human food can cause malnutrition, disease, an unnatural and potentially harmful trust in humans, and loss of animals’ instinct to forage and hunt.Tags: Conservancy Staff / Pollinators / Nature Lovers / Landscapes
Get to Know the Park with a Conservancy Guide
Want a more tailored experience of Central Park? Our dedicated team of expert guides are eager to share decades of Park research. We offer in-person and virtual tours, including handy maps for your self-guided tours.
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Central Park Woodland Walks
Engage your senses, calm your mind, and immerse yourself in the Park’s greenery. Follow our knowledgeable guides on a relaxing walk through one the Park’s three woodland landscapes: the Ramble, the North Woods, or the Hallett Nature Sanctuary. -
Tours
Daily Mobility-Friendly Heart of the Park Tour
11:00 amShort on time? Bringing a stroller? Use a walker or a wheelchair? The Central Park Conservancy has created a fully mobility-friendly, ADA-accessible walking tour of Central Park. On the only tour of its kind, we’ll visit many of the Park’s most recognizable and beloved locations, such as Strawberry Fields, Bethesda Terrace, the Bow Bridge outlook, and the Alice in Wonderland statue.Tags: History / Staff Picks / Art & Architecture / Daily Tours
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Guided Tours
Family Birding Tour
Introduce the young people in your life to the beauty and fun of birding with this hands-on experience that’s perfect for the whole family. Our expert guides will lead young birders and their grown-ups on an adventure to learn the ins and outs of finding and identifying birds. Along the way, you’ll discover the magic of the Park’s castle and one of its charming woodland landscapes, the Ramble.Tags: Best for Kids / Nature Lovers / Kids and Families
Recycling Built for New Yorkers
Few things scream New York more than pizza and Central Park. But pizza boxes can be challenging to dispose of in traditional recycling containers. On a busy day, the Conservancy can count more than 100 pizza boxes discarded in the Park! So, we’re piloting a special recycling bin made just for New Yorkers’ favorite food. Watch NY1’s Roger Clark as he joins us in the Park to check it out.
Remember to bookmark our Alerts page for information on scheduled or weather-related Park closures. And, as much as we love to see visitors out enjoying the Park as much as possible, please follow the advice of health professionals and stay inside on extremely high-heat days. Pets are even more susceptible to heat than humans, so be mindful of your furry friends.