Manhattan · New York County
Harlem Meer
NYC Parks
- Location
- Northeast corner of Central Park, 106th to 110th Streets
- Size
- 11 (within Central Park) acres
- Hours
- Central Park hours
- Type
- NYC Parks
Harlem Meer is an 11-acre lake in the northeast corner of Central Park, the park's most culturally diverse section, where the surrounding neighborhoods of East Harlem, Central Harlem, and the Upper East Side converge.
The meer (Dutch for 'lake') offers free catch-and-release fishing, provided by the Central Park Conservancy's Dana Discovery Center on the north shore. The fishing program provides rods, bait, and instruction to anyone who wants to try, making it one of the most accessible outdoor activities in the park.
The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, a Victorian-style building on the meer's shore, provides environmental education programs, art workshops, and community events that serve the surrounding Harlem and East Harlem communities.
The northeast corner of Central Park was historically the most neglected section, suffering from decades of underinvestment. The Conservancy's restoration of Harlem Meer and construction of the Discovery Center transformed this corner into one of the park's most welcoming areas.
Harlem Meer provides free fishing, nature education, and lakeside recreation in the section of Central Park that connects to Harlem, bridging the park's pastoral landscape and one of the most culturally significant neighborhoods in American history.