Harlem, NY The new Davis Center is one of the most complex projects ever undertaken in Central Park’s long history. Spearheaded by the Central Park Conservancy, the project was designed by Susan T. Rodriguez Architecture & Design and Mitchell Giurgola. EW Howell Construction Group served as the general contractor for this $160 million project, which began construction in 2021.

Covering 34,000 s/f, 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 community and required modernization.

Situated on six acres, the Davis Center 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.

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.

This initiative is significant as a public effort to benefit New Yorkers, especially those in largely low-income communities near the northern end of the park.

“We are incredibly proud of what this project represents: a Central Park that continues to evolve to meet the needs of the communities that surround it, and our commitment to ensuring every part of it serves the millions of visitors who enjoy it each year,” said Betsy Smith, Central Park Conservancy president and CEO.