Central Park Conservancy

Cherry blossom season has arrived in Central Park – and with it, the return of our beloved cherry blossom tracker, an interactive map to help visitors experience the blooms in real time. 🌸 Sign up to check it out: https://bit.ly/3XB6IAc Special thanks to operations data coordinator Ariana Paul, for representing the Conservancy on FOX 5 NY and spotlighting the incredible work of our tree care team who care for 18,000+ trees year-round. https://bit.ly/4l8Gu20

The revitalization of Central Park’s north end is more than a transformation—it’s an investment in the future of the Park and the communities that rely on it. 🌿 The Central Park Conservancy is proud to announce the upcoming opening of the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, a $160 million project that restores natural ecosystems, reconnects neighborhoods with the Park, and provides world-class recreational facilities for local residents. This milestone reflects our commitment to ensuring access to green space and creating opportunities for all New Yorkers to connect with nature. Learn more about this exciting achievement: https://bit.ly/4iTt2wY

Central Park will always be New York City's backyard and a sanctuary, but as #CentralParkConservancy President and CEO Betsy Smith explains, we have higher ambitions: for it to also be “a civic laboratory committed to confronting some of the more vexing urban policy challenges of our time.”

Seneca Village, a once predominantly Black community in what is now Central Park, is being commemorated to mark the 200-year anniversary since its founding. With support from the Mellon Foundation, the Central Park Conservancy will examine the legacy of the site and offer a series of public programs and discussions to memorialize Seneca Village and the communities who resided there. #MellonFoundation #BlackHistoryMonth #SenecaVillage

Public spaces tell stories—but who gets to be remembered? 200 years ago, the landscape along what is now Central Park’s perimeter from West 82nd to 89th Street was home to a thriving, predominantly African American community known as Seneca Village. Today, we’re reimagining how its story is told. The #CentralParkConservancy, with support from the Mellon Foundation, is leading a two-year initiative to shape the future of Seneca Village’s commemoration. Through public programs, collaborations with artists and historians, and community conversations, we’re working toward a meaningful, permanent tribute. This work will culminate in a community-informed plan for a permanent commemoration of Seneca Village in Central Park, ensuring that its history is celebrated for generations to come. We invite all New Yorkers to participate in this ongoing dialogue. And this weekend, join us for free tours of the Seneca Village area with our expert guides! https://bit.ly/4gMRvCE

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.