Charles A. Dana Discovery Center

This terrific little building that has been restored to it’s original state is a wonderful reminder of what makes Central Park so magical. Situated at the far northern point of the park on the banks of the Harlem Meer this structure hosts some wonderful live music events during the summer season. Having been there on a few occasions it makes for a relaxing time to sit under the shade while listening to world music and local musicians.
This educational center is a spot to attend different programs during the year, and you can also rent fishing rods for catch and release fun in the Meer during fishing season. There are plenty of benches and places to sit at to enjoy the view along the Meer and around the center. Decently clean bathrooms can also be found in the Dana Center. Mostly locals come here which is nice as it never seems overly crowded with tourists. It’s also close to some great spots to eat a few minutes away up in Harlem.

Right along the Meer lies another much-​unknown little resource in a region I’d dub «kids of Harlem, meet Central Park». Little bit of a sore thumb in the panorama of the Meer, but it’s great to see children (& adults) get edumacated… or…I guess… actually do it yourself.

Beautiful unhurried part of Central Park that everyone who is looking for a quiet spot should visit. I think the air is a bit cleaner this far uptown than compared to the lower parts of the park.
Also, there is a Harlem Meer music festival all summer where you can hear great world music while sitting by the lake under a canopy of trees.

The Dana, named after Charles A. Dana a newspaper editor and the assistant secretary of war during the Civil War, is located in the northern end of Central Park and sits on the banks of the Harlem Meer. The Harlem Meer is the second largest body of water in the park and like all the other bodies of water in the park is man made (i.e. dug out of the bed rock and filled with tap water! Seriously the same water you and I drink is pumped in to fill them. Although you don’t let millions of people walk around or ducks do their business in your water, so don’t try to swim in it or drink it!).
The Dana Discovery Center houses the parks only educational center and hosts a number of programs throughout the year (the birds of Central Park was a great event) and offers educational exhibits in the Great Hall (i.e. park history, park guides, the parks natural and man-​made or man-​influenced environment). You can even rent fishing gear from April — October for the Meer’s catch and release fishing program. Open all year long, the Dana and the Meer is a great spot to start or end a morning run through the park or to just sit on one of the many benches to enjoy a cup of coffee.
The staff at the Dana are very friendly and are a great information resource in the park.
Not too many tourists make it up this far and it’s their loss! Located nearby is the Lasker pool and rink (which is a great alternative to Wollman for ice skating) and the Conservatory Garden (which is one of my favorite spots in the park! It is incredibly beautiful).
New Yorkers get out there and enjoy your park!