The north end of Central Park finally has gotten some love, although people won't be swimming in the Gottesman Pool until the end of June, when it officially opens for the summer. I rushed to see Harlem Oval upon returning from Florida, knee-pain and overcast skies be damned!
The project, which cost $160 million and also will function as an ice skating rink replaces a relic from the Robert Moses era. Say what you will about the now mostly reviled man, his publicly-funded construction binge increased recreational opportunities for New Yorkers during a period when they desperately wanted them, before private philanthropists seeking bragging rights began to call the shots.
The Davis Center--named for a couple with multiple failed marriages between them--is built into the side of a slope just like the old facility. Like everything else in Central Park, that slope is man-made. I hope the new landscaping will justify the removal of several towering pine trees I once raced past on my bike most mornings and be able to handle the run-off from the occasional torrential rains that have become a regular feature of our changing weather.
A skylight is embedded in the functional roof of the center.
Benches provide beautiful views of the Harlem Meer which once extended all the way to the East River.
A new wooden bridge provides easy access to the Davis Center from the renovated paths around the Meer.
August 2025 Update
The Davis Center opened in mid-June but I didn't return until early August. Although it's free and can accommodate one thousand New Yorkers at a time, the pool seemed remarkably uncrowded on a hot late afternoon.
The urban oasis is only three feet deep. The orange umbrellas provide shade for multiple lifeguards.
Summer flowers bloomed around the murky Harlem Meer.
The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center is visible from the new boardwalk around the southern edge of the Meer.
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