Davis Center at the Harlem Meer

The new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer is one of the most complex projects ever undertaken in Central Park’s long history.

Covering 34,000 square feet, the new center replaces the former Lasker Rink and Pool, originally built in 1966. This facility served as a barrier between Central Park and the surrounding Harlem community and required modernization.

Situated on 6 acres, the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer seamlessly blends into the park’s landscape with its stone walls and green roof. It features a new, larger-than-Olympic-sized pool, which will serve various purposes throughout the seasons. The pool will act as a flexible recreation space during the spring and fall, and it will transform into an ice skating rink in the winter. Additionally, the center includes locker rooms, a concession stand, and gallery space for visitors year-round.

The Davis Center is more than just a pool and a rink; it serves as a vital link between Harlem and the park’s North Woods. Walking paths along a resurfaced stream and a new boardwalk traversing the surrounding water have been constructed to provide unrestricted access to every part of the park.

The Davis Center at the Harlem Meer was recognized in the AIA New York 2026 Design Awards, being given the Honor Award in the Architecture category.