The Davis Center

Gottesman Rink

Central Park has always had a split personality: postcard-famous in the south, proudly local in the north. For decades, the park’s northern end offered some of its most beautiful landscape (the Harlem Meer, the North Woods, Huddlestone Arch) but fewer of the “destination” amenities that pull people in year-round. The new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer is a clear attempt to fix that imbalance, not by turning the north end into a theme park, but by giving it a true neighborhood hub that works in every season.

The Davis Center replaces the old Lasker Rink and Pool complex, a mid-century facility that had become worn, hard to access, and, in many ways, at odds with the surrounding landscape. The redesign is meant to do two things at once: upgrade recreation and repair the relationship between built structure and nature. The Central Park Conservancy describes it as a $160 million transformation and its most significant and complex undertaking to date, built around year-round community access.

What makes the project feel genuinely “new” isn’t only the building. It’s the way the site changes character over the calendar. In winter, the heart of the complex becomes the Gottesman Rink, open for skating with the Harlem Meer as a backdrop. In spring and fall, that same space becomes the Harlem Oval, a green that can host free and low-cost programming. And in summer, the center shifts again, with the Gottesman Pool operating in partnership with NYC Parks.

That seasonal flexibility matters because it changes who the place is for. A winter-only rink is a treat; a multi-season campus becomes part of people’s routines. If you live nearby, you can come on a frosty weekday morning when the ice is quiet, or show up on a weekend when it feels like a block party. If you’re visiting from elsewhere, it’s one more reason to walk north instead of turning around at the Reservoir.

The Davis Center experience: tucked in, but not hidden

One of the smartest moves is how the center sits in the landscape. Instead of dominating the shoreline, it’s designed to feel low and integrated, with public space that lets you watch what’s happening without having to buy a ticket. The Conservancy emphasizes accessibility and community use, and even notes that during skating season the indoor gathering space is open to the public with no ticket required, so you can warm up or meet friends even if you’re not skating.

That “come in anyway” feeling is important. Ice rinks in New York can sometimes feel like controlled experiences: a queue, a ticket scan, a fixed session, then you’re out. The Davis Center tries to soften those edges by making the building itself part of the park visit. You can watch skaters through the glass, step out onto overlook areas, or simply pass through on your way to the Meer.

Gottesman Rink: a north-end winter anchor

The Gottesman Rink is the winter headline, and it’s positioned as a neighborhood-friendly alternative to the more tourist-heavy rinks farther south. Community Skate sessions are priced to be approachable, with different peak and off-peak rates and straightforward add-ons like rentals and lockers.

The hours also signal that this is built for locals, not just daytime visitors. Off-peak skating runs early, and peak hours push late into the evening on weekdays, which makes it realistic for students, families, and people coming after work.

Settepani on the Meer: the detail that makes it feel lived-in

A rink can be beautiful and still feel sterile if there’s nowhere to linger. That’s where Settepani on the Meer comes in. The Conservancy partnered with the Harlem-based bakery and café to run concessions at the Davis Center, aiming to spotlight a local, community-rooted business at the park’s north end.

The café offering is exactly what you want next to an ice rink: espresso and hot chocolate, pastries, and easy savory options that work whether you’re holding skates or pushing a stroller. The Conservancy lists items like croissants, maritozzo buns, muffins, plus salads, soups, and Italian-style pan-baked pizza, with hot and cold drinks.

Just as important, it gives the Davis Center a “third place” vibe: not home, not work, not a special occasion, just a comfortable stop that can turn a quick skate into a longer afternoon.

Fees and open hours
Davis Center facility hours (winter season)
Sunday–Thursday: 7:00 am–9:00 pm
Friday–Saturday: 7:00 am–11:00 pm
Cost to enter the Davis Center: Free entry (program/activity fees vary).

Gottesman Rink: Community Skate hours
Off-peak (Mon–Fri): 7:00 am–5:00 pm
Peak (Mon–Fri): 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Peak (Sat–Sun): All day (and public-school holiday/vacation days)
Davis Center

Community Skate ticket prices
Adults (17+): $10 peak / $5 off-peak
Children (4–16): $5 peak / $5 off-peak
Children (3 and under): Free

Community Skate add-ons
Skate rental: $10
Lock purchase: $5
Skate aids: $10
Skate sharpening: $15

Settepani on the Meer (café) hours
Monday–Friday: 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 am–7:00 pm
*(Hours are subject to change based on seasonal needs.)
Davis Center