Central Park opens stunning year-round rec center that seamlessly connects to the landscape

A new recreation center has finally opened on the northern end of Central Park. The $160 million Davis Center at the Harlem Meer is a year-round facility integrated into the park’s historic landscape with the ability to transform each season, from a pool in the summer, an ice rink in the winter, and a green lawn in the spring and fall. The center opens to the public for the first time on Saturday, with games, food and drink, live performances, and tours of the new venue for the community.

The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park, has worked since its founding in the 1980s to revitalize the north end of Central Park, including restoring the Harlem Meer in 1989. This latest project represents the group’s most ambitious capital project yet; the conservancy raised $100 million in private donations and received $60 million from the city.

“The opening of the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer is the result of years of listening, collaboration and bold belief in what this space could become. What once was a beloved but aging facility is now a beautiful, welcoming place that celebrates Central Park and welcomes New Yorkers to swim, skate, learn and connect – all year round,” Betsy Smith, President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy, said.

“We are incredibly proud of what this project represents: a Central Park that continues to evolve to meet the needs of the communities that surround it, and our commitment to ensuring every part of it serves the millions of visitors who enjoy it each year.”

The Davis Center, which builds on the larger restoration of the Ravine, part of the 40-acre North Woods, replaces the outdated Lasker Rink and Pool, which opened in the 1960s and was long seen as an eyesore. Plus, due to engineering miscalculations, it constantly flooded.

Designed by Susan T Rodriguez | Architecture • Design and Mitchell Giurgola Architects in collaboration with the Conservancy, the new facility is built into the site’s steep topography, integrated seamlessly with the park. It sits within the curvilinear geometry of Park Drive, the original framework envisioned by Olmsted and Vaux.

A green roof covers the entire building and offers views of the Harlem Meer. Underneath, a soaring, light-filled gathering space with a wooden ceiling connects to the outdoors. There are amenities like locker rooms, skate rentals, public restrooms, and concessions.

During the warmer months, the floor-to-ceiling glass doors will open directly to the pool deck.

The center includes a swimming pool larger than an Olympic-sized pool and will be one of the few in the city to accommodate 50-meter lap swimming. In the winter, the pool will be converted into a full-size ice rink. For the spring and fall seasons, the space turns into the Harlem Oval, a sprawling public green space for relaxation and recreation.

As 6sqft previously reported, the Conservancy restored the stream’s original above-ground flow after it had been buried underground and a pedestrian path that once ran beside it. A new, curving boardwalk surrounds the shoreline, providing more access to the Meer and potential for wildlife observation and other activities.

Year-round programming for all ages will be largely free or low-cost and operated by the Conservancy, NYC Parks, and community non-profits. Expect yoga and meditation, dance classes, birding tours, open skate, hockey lessons, swim lessons, and guided tours of the park’s northern landscape.

“This facility will offer something for everyone,” Council Member Yusef Salaam said. “I’m especially excited for the family-friendly celebration on the Harlem Oval, showcasing local talent and inviting all New Yorkers the opportunity to explore this transformative space. The Davis Center will strengthen Harlem’s spirit and bring us together through diverse, accessible programming.”

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