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A few months ago, we reported on the $160 million project to replace the former Lasker Rink and Pool in the northern part of Central Park with the new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer. This 11-acre destination will feature the city's eighth-largest swimming pool in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter. Today, we’re unveiling the first renderings of the new facility, along with its official opening date: April 26.
"The Davis Center is the culmination of the Central Park Conservancy’s more than 40 years of restoration and investment in Central Park’s north end, and this new facility and reimagined landscape is one of the most beautiful and innovative additions to the city’s civic infrastructure in decades," said Betsy Smith, president and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy, in an official statement. "Harlem and northern Manhattan have a deep and historic connection to the beauty of Central Park. This stunning new facility offers everyone year-round access to world-class facilities and programming."
Dubbed Gottesman Pool, the swimming facility will be open from late June to early September. Managed by the New York City Parks Department, it will be completely free to access and, as seen in the renderings, it will convert into an ice rink during the colder months. According to an official press release, the space will transform into a public green area called Harlem Oval during the shoulder seasons, ensuring year-round accessibility for the community.
The new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer will also host a diverse range of majority free and low-cost programming throughout the year, from lawn games to wellness and fitness classes, nature-related activities, school field days and tours of the new facility.
It's not often that such a major part of NYC undergoes a deep redesign—especially with such a relatively quick turnaround, as this project only began in 2021. We’re always looking forward to summer in New York but, suddenly, our seasonal to-do list just got even more exciting.
