The Davis Center at the Harlem Meer Marks a Year of Serving New Yorkers in Central Park’s North End

Davis Center and the Harlem Oval’s multi-use turf field. Image by Central Park Conservancy

The Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit organization and civic institution responsible for managing Central Park, celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, marking a milestone for the most ambitious capital project in the Conservancy’s history. 

Since opening in April 2025, the Davis Center has welcomed more than 170,000 visitors to the Gottesman Pool and Rink, the green, and the indoor gathering space. The four-season facility has expanded access to green space in the Park’s north end while creating a vibrant, welcoming destination for Harlem residents and visitors alike. The Conservancy, together with the City of New York, invested $160 million to build the Davis Center, following the Conservancy’s own investment of more than $310 million in the Park north of 97th Street over the past four decades. 

“The Davis Center exemplifies our long-term commitment to the north end of Central Park, and our deep investment in reconnecting Harlemites to a part of the Park that for too long seemed unwelcoming,” said Betsy Smith, President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy. “We built the Davis Center hand-in-hand with Harlem residents, who told us clearly that they wanted ‘more park’ and a beautiful place to gather. We are immensely proud to now see it now flourishing.” 

Over the past year, the Davis Center has demonstrated the impact of sustained investment in equitable public space. During its inaugural summer season, more than 65,000 visitors accessed the Gottesman Pool, operated by NYC Parks, while the Gottesman Rink hosted over 40,000 program participants through public skating, lessons, and hockey clinics. The facility has also supported educational programming, welcoming 30 schools for over 40 field trip sessions with dedicated ice time, with additional schools participating in community skate opportunities. 

“Our partnership with the Davis Center reflects what’s possible when spaces are designed with community at the center,” said Sharon Cohen, Founder and CEO of Figure Skating in Harlem. “Over the past year, it has created meaningful opportunities for our girls to build confidence, connection, and joy—on the ice and beyond.” 

“Ice Hockey in Harlem has experienced a truly transformative year with the return to Harlem through the Davis Center,” said Malik Garvin, Executive Director of Ice Hockey in Harlem. “Our families have also been able to take advantage of other facility offerings such as public skating, embracing winter sports and engaging with our neighborhood in a positive and meaningful way.” 

Conceived as part of a broader effort to restore and reconnect Central Park’s north end, the Davis Center has reclaimed parkland from the former Lasker Rink and Pool, reestablishing a more natural landscape and strengthening connections between the Harlem community and the broader Park. Its flexible, seasonally transforming design has established a new model for how public space can serve communities year-round, while its indoor gathering space has become a “living room” for the neighborhood: a welcoming place for rest, conversation, learning, and connection. 

“It’s a joy to welcome familiar faces back to the Davis Center across seasons,” said Darline Lalanne, Director of Public Programs and the Davis Center at Central Park Conservancy. “The families and neighbors that stop by for our free public programming return for hockey sessions, community skate hours, and swimming instruction. Our facility has become a cherished part of the Harlem community’s routine, and we look forward to celebrating this gift with our neighbors for many years to come.” 

In recognition of its design excellence and community benefit, the Davis Center has received numerous honors, including the 2026 Award of Excellence from The New York Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects, the organization’s top honor. In addition, the American Institute of Architects New York recognized the project with an award of Honor, one of its top recognitions. The project was also recognized as the 2025 Project of the Year Award from the Regional Plan Association and received a MASterworks Award for Best New Urban Landscape from the Municipal Art Society of New York. The project was also recognized as an Annual Gala Honoree by New Yorkers for Parks. These accolades underscore the Davis Center’s role as a leading example of how investment in public space can advance livability, resilience, and community connection in cities. 

“The Davis Center at the Harlem Meer has quickly become a year-round destination for recreation, learning, and connection, showing what’s possible when public and nonprofit partners come together to make thoughtful, community-driven investments that strengthen neighborhoods and create lasting opportunities for New Yorkers,” said Tricia Shimamura, NYC Parks Commissioner. “The Davis Center reflects our commitment to equity in our parks system, ensuring that every New Yorker — especially those in historically underserved communities — has access to beautiful, safe, and dynamic green spaces. We’re proud to work alongside the Central Park Conservancy on this transformative project, and we look forward to seeing it continue to serve Harlem families and visitors for generations to come.” 

“The Davis Center has transformed northern Central Park into a dynamic hub where neighbors connect, families create memories, and people of all ages can stay active and engaged,” said New York City Council Member Yusef Salaam. “From ice skating in the winter to swimming in the summer, it’s more than a recreational facility; it’s a vital community anchor. We are proud to celebrate its first year and look forward to many more years of opportunity, access, and wellness for Harlem and all of Northern Manhattan.” 

“One year in, the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer is already an important part of how New Yorkers use the north end of Central Park,” said New York City Council Member Gale Brewer. “This project restored parkland, expanded access to recreation, and created a welcoming place for the surrounding community and its many visitors. I’ve been proud to support this project from the beginning, and it’s good to see it delivering exactly what it was intended to do.” 

The Conservancy continues to build on the Davis Center’s first year with robust free and low-cost programming for all ages. Seasonal offerings include swimming and aquatic programming in the summer, ice skating and hockey in the winter, and open green space in the spring for relaxation and recreation. Upcoming events this spring include All That Jazz at the Davis Center, Design Your Financial Future: A Vision Boarding Workshop and Wellness on the Green, as well as open space for informal recreation and relaxation. For more information, visit daviscenter.centralparknyc.org. 

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.