Renderings courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy
A transformative project set to reconnect the neighborhoods at Central Park’s northern edge to the Harlem Meer is slated to open next month. The new $160 million Davis Center will open on April 26, the Central Park Conservancy announced on Wednesday. The Davis Center replaces the aging Lasker Rink and Pool with a state-of-the-art facility featuring a pool in the summer, a winter ice skating rink, a paved boardwalk, public open space, and more. One of the most ambitious undertakings in the Conservancy’s history, the project also transforms the surrounding landscape, improving park access for residents of the primarily low-income communities bordering the park to the north.
Designed by the Conservancy and Susan T Rodriguez | Architecture • Design in collaboration with Mitchell Giurgola Architects, the 11-acre Davis Center is the Conservancy’s “capstone” project to revitalize Central Park’s northern end.
Originally announced in 2019, the project broke ground in September 2021, a long overdue upgrade for the aging Lasker Rink and Pool and its surrounding area. The idea originated at City Hall when Alicia Glen, a former deputy mayor under Bill de Blasio, approached the Conservancy with an offer to fund part of the rink’s upgrade using city funds, according to the New York Times.
The remaining funds were provided by a group of wealthy New Yorkers, including $25 million from Thomas L. Kempner Jr., chairman of the Conservancy’s board, and his wife; $40 million from financier Andrew Davis; $10 million from venture capitalist Russell L. Carson; and the rest from Ruth L. Gottesman, widow of a prominent financier, whose last name will be featured on the pool.
Constructed in 1966, the Lasker Rink was long criticized as an eyesore, plagued by frequent flooding due to an “engineering miscalculation” that rerouted a stream into a culvert, as reported by West Side Rag.
The pool and rink obstructed views of “people, views, and water” throughout the park, as 6sqft previously reported.
As part of the project, the Conservancy has “daylighted” the stream, restoring its original above-ground flow after it had previously been buried underground. It has also restored a pedestrian path that once ran beside it, enhancing pedestrian flow. A boardwalk with handrails has also been installed along the edge of the Meer.
Council Member Yusef Salaam, one of the five men exonerated in 1989 for the infamous Central Park rape case and known as part of the Central Park Five, recalled to the Times his childhood days at Lasker, where he had to swim in sneakers to avoid stepping on the broken glass that littered the bottom of the pool.
Now, the historically underserved neighborhoods along the park’s northern border will have seamless access to Central Park’s northern edge and the Ravine woodland, along with year-round free and affordable programming.
During the summer, the facility will transform into the Gottesman Pool, with swimming programs hosted by the city’s Parks Department. The pool will be free and open to the public between late June and early September.
In the winter, the space will transform into an ice skating rink, providing community-based youth sports, public skate sessions, and skating and hockey lessons for all ages. The Davis Center has also committed to offering affordable ice time for local Harlem organizations, including Figure Skating in Harlem, the Central Park North Stars, and the American Special Hockey Association.
During the fall and spring “shoulder seasons,” the facility will become the Harlem Oval, a sprawling public green space designed for both relaxation and recreation. The Conservancy will host lawn games, nature activities, wellness and fitness classes, as well as school field days and guided tours of the facility and its surrounding landscape.
The Davis Center will host a range of free and low-cost programs year-round, run by the Conservancy and community-focused nonprofits that will use the facility. Programming is made possible through funding from JPMorgan Chase, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), Philip & Alicia Hammarskjold, and Paula and Jeffrey Gural.
The Davis Center will also feature a gathering space, locker rooms, and public bathrooms
The Conservancy has invested over $310 million in the area of the park north of 97th Street over the past 40 years, accounting for roughly one-third of the organization’s total investments in Central Park.
“The Davis Center is the culmination of the Central Park Conservancy’s more than 40 years of restoration and investment in Central Park’s north end, and this new facility and reimagined landscape is one of the most beautiful and innovative additions to the city’s civic infrastructure in decades,” Betsy Smith, president and CEO of the Conservancy, said.
“Harlem and northern Manhattan have a deep and historic connection to the beauty of Central Park. This stunning new facility offers everyone year-round access to world-class facilities and programming.”
From the beginning of the planning process, the Conservancy has taken a “community-first” approach, working closely with local leaders, community groups, and elected officials to ensure the Davis Center meets the needs of the community.
The Conservancy will celebrate the Davis Center’s grand opening on April 26 with a community celebration on the Harlem Oval starting at 12 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will feature activations from local organizations, food and drinks, live performances, and hourly tours of the new facility.
RELATED:
Source link
