“Central Park Conservancy unveils designs for a transformative project that will create a beautiful new recreational facility seamlessly integrated into the landscape around the Harlem Meer. The project will repair the damaged landscape, improve the ecology of the north end, and re-establish long-severed connections to one of the Park’s most picturesque areas. The new facility will replace the aging pool and rink, which has suffered from systemic problems since it was built and obstructs the flow of people, views, and water through the Park.

For the Conservancy—the private, nonprofit organization that restores, manages, and enhances Central Park in partnership with the public—this momentous project will cap a decades-long restoration of the Park’s north end. Today’s announcement revealed the vision of the Conservancy’s design office, led by Chief Landscape Architect Christopher J. Nolan, FASLA, with the architectural team of Susan T. Rodriguez Architecture | Design in collaboration with Mitchell Giurgola. More than a year of extensive community engagement contributed toward the design. The unveiling of the design for the north end project initiates the process of public review and regulatory approvals. — Central Park Conservancy

Renderings courtesy Susan T. Rodriguez Architecture | Design and the Central Park Conservancy.

Overlook of the re-envisioned north end of Central Park.

Bird’s-eye view of the re-envisioned north end of Central Park.

Aerial view of the re-envisioned north end of Central Park.

View from Central Park’s Harlem Meer shoreline.

Interior view of pavillion at the pool in Central Park’s north end.

Interior view of locker room at the pool and rink in Central Park’s north end.

View of boardwalk at Central Park’s Harlem Meer.

View of skating ribbon at Central Park’s Harlem Meer

Proposed updated view through Huddlestone Arch.

Proposed restored watercourse.

Elizabeth W. Smith, President & CEO of the Central Park Conservancy, said, “With our partners at NYC Parks, I’m thrilled to offer the public a design that achieves one of the Conservancy’s highest goals: connecting recreational activities with the restorative and uplifting experience that is the essence of Central Park. This sensitive and inventive design will give New Yorkers the greatly improved amenity they deserve, while returning to them the free and open use of one of the most scenic areas in the Park. Since the Conservancy was established in 1980, we have invested more than one billion dollars in the Park and have restored, renewed, and preserved virtually every corner of this urban treasure. I am enormously proud that we’re capping the 40-year makeover with this wonderful, impactful project.”