Rendering c/o Central Park Conservancy
The Central Park Conservancy has announced that the new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, which we got a sneak peek of late last year, will be opening to the public on Saturday, April 26.
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Discussions began in 2019 and construction kicked off in 2021. The $160 million project–$60 million came from the city with the remainder coming from private donations–replaces the former Lasker Rink and Pool, which was built in the 1960s.
The new facility will feature a public pool which will convert into an ice rink in the winter, “and in contrast to the Lasker facility, it will also transform into the Harlem Oval – a public green – in the shoulder seasons, ensuring year-round community access,” a press release states.
Rendering c/o Central Park Conservancy
Rendering c/o Central Park Conservancy
A formal ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Friday, April 25, and on opening day, a community celebration will include food, drinks, live performances and tours. The celebration will start at noon and all are welcome to attend.
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The Davis Center will host a variety of free or affordable programs throughout the year: wellness and fitness classes, nature programs, ice time for youth sports, and swim programming managed by the NYC Parks Department.
“The design of the Davis Center – led by the Central Park Conservancy and Susan T Rodriguez | Architecture • Design in collaboration with Mitchell Giurgola Architects – marries architecture and landscape to create nature-based recreational experiences, and reconnects the Park’s north end and the Harlem community to the rest of Central Park.”
The Davis Center is located at the northern end of the park just south of 110th Street. View the Harlem Meer on a map.
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This looks great! Nice to see the north end of the park getting some love.
Yeah, it’s on the east side, but glad for the coverage.
I run there almost every day and have been watching the great care and diligence they’re putting into every detail. I hope it will get the ongoing maintenance and attention it deserves.