Harlem Meer
Location: MAP | Inside Central Park at 110th Street, between Fifth and Lenox Avenues Hours: Starting April 16, 2021, the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Contact: (347) 443-0656
The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center was opened in 1993 as one of the park's main visitor centers. Named after Charles A. Dana, former editor of the New York Tribune and mediator between General Grand and Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, the Discovery Center holds a multitude of educational workshops and community programs throughout the year.
In addition to hosting environmental programs for children, the Discovery Center also teaches kids about wildlife firsthand.
The Catch and Release fishing program (currently unavailable) at the Harlem Meer includes complimentary instruction, poles, and bait. This activity is primarily geared toward children ages 5 to 15.
The annual Central Park Holiday Lighting takes place at the Plaza, adjacent to the Discovery Center. The celebration includes cookies, cocoa, carols, and lighting a flotilla of trees on the Harlem Meer.