Central Park Conservancy

Saluting our Park protectors, then and now! On this day in 1858, twenty-four Parkkeepers were appointed to maintain and care for Central Park – while it was still a work in progress. We commemorate all the Park staff, from those very early days, to the formation of the Central Park Conservancy in 1980, to today. Their efforts across the decades have made Central Park a respite for all, and an emblem of New York City. Thank you to all the Central Park Conservancy staff, and Park lovers around the world, for your support!

“In one of the most ambitious projects in Central Park’s history, a $160 million transformation is underway, thanks to the ground-breaking work of the Central Park Conservancy and their team of architects.” Take an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Davis Center on the Harlem Meer with Cheddar.

How do you transform a beloved urban park into a global stage for creativity? In 2005, Central Park became the canvas for Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s The Gates. For 16 days, 7,503 gates brought vibrant energy and connection to New York City’s backyard. Explore the legacy of this extraordinary project and what it teaches us about the intersection of art, nature, and community. https://bit.ly/42BDxjM

It’s a new year and it’s a new Harlem Meer! 2025 is off to an amazing start at the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer. The latest updates on the new center include new floor-to-ceiling glass doors, the swimming pool being tested, work beginning on the stream course reconnection, and more. Piece by piece, the Davis Center is coming to life—and we can’t wait for you to experience it this spring!

Before we count down to 2025, we’re proud to present our top 10 #CentralParkConservancy moments this year! Thank you to our wonderful community of volunteers, members, partners, and neighbors who contributed to another groundbreaking year in New York City’s backyard possible.

New York Amsterdam News recently highlighted the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, the transformative project that is set to reshape the north end of Central Park. Opening in 2025, the Davis Center will feature an ice rink, a pool, and a public green space, offering year-round access to the Harlem community. This revitalization marks a significant step in making the north end of the Park more inclusive and welcoming.

“New York is the grandest of social experiments, far larger than the sum of its parts, and if devoting one’s days to making it a greener, fairer and more informed place counts as achieving social responsibility, then sign me up.” Congratulations to David Saltonstall, the #CentralParkConservancy’s Vice President for Government Relations, Policy and Community Affairs, for being named one of City & State's 2024 #Responsible100, a list honoring New Yorkers practicing and promoting social responsibility! https://bit.ly/3VtniB6

“Nature first, second, and third—then architecture after a while.” This guiding philosophy of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux is at the heart of the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer. As highlighted in Fast Company, this new facility replaces the old Lasker Rink and Pool with a balanced design that integrates seamlessly into the Park’s landscape. From a living roof to a redesigned waterway, every detail reflects our commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and preserving the vision that has defined Central Park for generations. By thoughtfully integrating architecture with nature, we are creating a space that will serve the community for years to come.

We New Yorkers love to eat pizza in Central Park, but getting rid of the empty boxes for recycling isn't easy with overflowing bins. So earlier this year, the #CentralParkConservancy began a pilot program with new pizza-recycling bins, making it easier for park-goers to get rid of their pizza boxes—and easier for our staff to collect them. Thanks to Curbed for naming our pizza-recycling bins one of their 39 reasons to love New York! https://lnkd.in/evkRCA5B

Gothic Bridge looks gorgeous! The #CentralParkConservancy just completed the restoration of this beloved cast-iron bridge. We repaired and recast the bridge’s signature gothic-inspired decorative elements, used sandblasting to remove layers of peeling and decayed paint, and conducted testing to ensure restored steel and cast-iron match the existing colors. This work was done as part of the Conservancy’s State of Good Repair program, which mitigates the need for extensive closures by taking time for additional maintenance work every five to ten years in between major restorations. This helps to extend the lifespan of previous restoration efforts while minimizing disruptions to Park activity.