The rings here for swinging are my kids favorites in the city…read more When the bar is open it's great place for parents as well

As a visitor, I was delighted to find this park on the Upper West Side. It is full of walkable…read morepaths and lots of trees. I love seeing all of the people, dogs, and children basking in this peaceful setting. It is a balm for a bustling world.

I stayed at roughly Central Park West and 100th during a recent trip to NYC. I was in the west side…read moreof the park twice during my trip. The park is beautiful and well maintained. One day I walked across the park to get from the West side to the East side. You have to walk or take ground transportation. There is no subway that will get you across the park. It's a lovely walk!

Central Park West, lines the west side of Central Park, stretching a little over 2 miles from West…read more59th Street to West 110th Street. Big beautiful high rises line the streets. The most famous being the Dakota. You can also find The Museum of Natural History and a few blocks north, the Guggenheim I Love grabbing breakfast and coffee and taking a nice long walk on CPW. It's a beautiful part of the park. You can spend days and hours here and every time you walk through it's a new experience. Around 72nd you can find Strawberry Fields, the John Lennon tribute. and up around the 90's there's the Jackie O reservoir, which on the right day the colors from the sun on the fountain are magnificent. Beautiful scenery and perfect picture taking. If you're a runner, it makes for a perfect jog.

I absolutely love the fall foliage here. Central Park has always been my favorite spot whenever I…read morevisit the city, but autumn truly makes it magical. The colors, the crisp air, and the quiet moments just sitting on a bench under the branches it's pure tranquility. There's really nothing more to say; the beauty speaks for itself. You can see exactly what I mean through my photos.

This secret waterfall is perfectly hidden in Central Park. It's one of my favorite places in…read moreCentral Park to rewind and sit. The sound of the waterfall is so soothing and brings calmness.

Exciting! The long-awaited Davis Center at the Harlem Meer finally is open!!!…read more Living next to this northern part of Central Park, it adds a lot to the neighborhood - bringing well-needed state-of-the-art recreation facilities compared to the prior Lasker Pool and Rink. Together with all the adjacent design improvements to the Harlem Meer shoreline and nearby outdoor park space, the Davis Center certainly provides an amazing resource for us in the community. It's a big deal! Opening Day provided a well-enjoyed kick-off to its programs in the new Harlem Oval public green, (i.e., the covered Gottesmen Pool and Rink,) but welcoming the Davis Center's everyday benefits, adjusting with the season! The Harlem Oval will function in the Spring and Fall, while the Pool will open in June. The Rink will operate during the Winter. Come over to enjoy those immediately available free and low cost activities such as games, yoga, serene retreat sessions, and line dancing. Beyond the Davis Center's views overlooking the Meer, you'll notice the facility's beautiful Adirondack Granite, wood panel ceilings and picnic tables, deep green tiles in the shape of Central Park, plus walkway and green roof above, but what may be less visible is the special bird-friendly glass used to prevent inadvertent flights into the Davis Center windows. Take one of the 3 approaches to the Davis Center that have received a superb refresh: through Huddleston Arch in the North Woods; over the new Kepner Boardwalk along the South edge of the Meer; or from East Drive via the pedestrian bridge over the reestablished water flow between the Loch in North Woods and the Meer. (This reconnected water features have been designed to eliminate the flooding that plagued this park area since the culvert built in its place during Lasker's construction in the late '60s.) Thank you Central Park Conservancy and everyone involved for making the Davis Center happen!

After more than 5 years of reconstruction, and redesign, the new Davis Recreation Center is finally…read moreopen! It's clean, beautiful, and a fantastic spot in North Central to take a break, and love the city!

It's an ok park. The street in front of it is blocked off which is convenient. Lots of trees but…read moredoesn't seem to be kept well. The grass needs to be cut. Lots of pigeons. The playground equipment needs an upgrade.

The trees at Ruppert Park is so huge and just make me feel like a little person…read more Some days I'll come to the park for a cute picnic with my coworkers. Just to lay on the grass and eat lunch. Enjoy what nature have to offer on a cool day.

Great pool, well managed, lots of fun. I took my seven-year-old daughter and we both had a blast…read more It was clean and safe. Exceeded my expectations.

Open 7 days 11am-3pm and 4pm-7pm Lap Swimming Mon. - Fri…read more from 7:00 - 8:30 AM & 7:00 - 8:30 PM Rules: * Bring your own towels and lock * No electronics in the pool area- must store in locker * No luggage locks, only Master Locks allowed. * All bags frisked before entry Pros: * Enormous pool * Very clean and cold water - you can tell they constantly clean it * There is a lot of space to lie down, but its mostly uncomfortable concrete surfaces. Good thing there are about 10 plastic lounge chairs (that are heavily padlocked and chained to each other) at the back that go quickly Cons: * Because it's a public free pool- there are tons of rules and staff is very strict. Honestly I'd prefer rules and strict versus total chaos at the pool * Changing rooms and showers are gross!! It smells and there is never any toilet paper. Make sure to wear flip flops because the floors are disgusting. Tips: * If you want quiet, don't come to the Friday morning session because there are a million kids running and screaming.

My review of Harlem Meer is also a tribute to the sweetest owl, Flaco…read more First, let's talk about the Meer..the Meer and the area around it was one of the last parts of Central Park to be built; a swamp was transformed into the 11-acre Meer. It is located on the northeast corner of Central Park, between 106th and 110th Streets. "The word "Meer" is Dutch for "small sea," and the name reflects the Park designers' interest in unique names for the Park's water bodies. It also connects to the area's past, once part of the Dutch village of Harlem. This artificial lake was created on the location of a tidal marsh that was fed by a creek that extended south to the Harlem River. " "Charles A. Dana Discovery Center was built on the north shore of the Meer as part of the restoration. More recently, the Lasker Rink area near the Meer was redeveloped into the Davis Center, a new facility that includes a year-round ice rink and pool." On my recent visit, I was stoked to finally visit the swimming pool but it was closed; prepping for winter and turning into the rink. The Meer hosts picnics, fishing ( catch and release only, the seasonal Pumpkin flotilla and many other activities. How and why did I fall in love with this area? There was a little owl who lived in a cage in the Central Park Zoo. One day, a visitor dismantled his cage and the owl escaped. That night, he was spotted in front of Bergdorf Goodman by several members of the police trying to catch him. But, he was too smart for them and escaped again. The next day, he was spotted in inside park @79th Street. But, being an Eurasian owl, Flaco, aimed higher. He settled into the North Woods. My friend Rochelle and I were mesmerized by him and visited him often. Flaco was a brilliant and curious owl. He was spotted in the Meer. Why? He loved watching the construction of the new pool( Davis Center) and caught his dinner there, rats! I have included pictures of Flaco sitting atop a Komatsu watching the construction and of course looking for rats. I have beautiful memories of Flaco and because of him, falling in love with the Meer and Harlem. It is my most favorite part of Central Park. Flaco was the most beautiful owl I have ever encountered. When I visit the Meer I visit his most favorite tree, time and time again.. More to come!

Come over! Enjoy the Spring with emerging new flowers and local wildlife! Love Harlem Meer! Once…read morediscovering the Northeast corner of Central Park years ago, it has been one of my favorite places to visit year-round! Now living next to it, I regularly come to here walk and sit. The lake with its boathouse is the perfect place to reflect, especially if you appreciate wildlife. I enjoy that it's less touristy, more local park feel. Some people come to fish, but remember it's only catch and release. Although regularly you'll see all types of birds, my favorite animals to watch are the turtles - especially when they head to land or rocks to sunbathe! Harlem Meer's Boathouse houses the Dana Discovery Center, an environmental education center and info point. Under construction is the new Davis Center, with a new state-of-the-art pool and rink to replace the dated Lasker Rink and Pool, will have it's Opening Day Celebration on April 26th with programs starting at its Harlem Oval public green and its Gottesman Pool scheduled to open in June. This renovation will also enable a connection between the lake and water features in the North Woods park section, styled to be a rustic forest like the Adirondacks. The southern Meer shoreline is also getting a well-needed redesign. If you make it here, adjacent to Harlem Meer's southern tip and Fifth Avenue 106th St. entrance is the Conservatory Garden, an amazing place especially from March to October when there are coordinated blooms across 3 well-maintained formal gardens, just fully available after renovations! While Harlem Meer in a more naturalistic setting has the fauna, the Conservatory Garden truly features the flora. The northernmost French section, immediately adjoining Harlem Meer, includes a fountain and trellaces immediately connects through the newly reopened Italian section, with its own fountain and pergola, to the amazing southernmost English "Secret Garden" section - with the widest flower selections and hidden fountain. Replanted Crabtree Allées divide the three. It's all a worthwhile extra stop once to a Harlem Meer visit!