Harlem Meer

I’ve been living up by this small (yet noble in its own right) body of water for a month now, and it’s been nothing but roses. Yeah, the Meer may not be the BIGGEST body of water in the park, but does that mean it’s not the best? Suck it Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy reservoir, you may hold some «drinking water» that «keeps people alive», but your fence makes you look bad (yeah I said it, someone had to). So what if the water in this little lake is «unsuitable for drinking», and «may cause giardia», I like it just the same.
Who wants to go for a stroll around the Meer? Well aside from the dirty sounding name* (it means lake in Dutch by the by), the Meer is one of the most gorgeous places in Central Park (and you should absolutely go for a walk around it if you find yourself uptown). From the early morning dog walkers, to the late night hooligans, and all the tourists in between, the diversity of people hanging out around here cannot be overstated; that is really the beauty of this part of town though, it seems like every different sort of person lives around here and I have to say I like that a lot. The windy paths lead you around the many curves of the lake, and the views are super nice. They have the Christmas tree in the middle of the lake this time of year, which is really something to see lit up at night (they also have a lighting that I missed, will have to go next year). If you’re into water, small hikes on paved paths, and are looking to get away without getting away, then this place is probably something that will be right up your alley.
So there you go, a gorgeous spot in the park for you to check out, and a quick Dutch language lesson all in one short review.
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*is it dirty sounding or funny? I still can’t make up my mind (though most dirty things are in fact funny, so there you go)

This is a great place to take in some air in NYC that’s just steps from the subway. And water is so peaceful. Catch some rays as you stroll…

Went on Sunday 8÷16÷2015 to see the Cuban Band Quimbombo and had a fabulous time. The event was well organized and the workers/​volunteers did a great job making the spectators comfortable with chairs and a canopy tent for shade. Great job and I can not wait to attend another event.

Gorgeous little hidden spot in the north part of Central Park absolutely beautiful with little turtles popping up in the water. Feels like aways away from downtown

I’ve lived across the street from the Harlem Meer all of my life; I am thankful for all the renovations made to it, and I walk through at least once a week.

A beautiful and lesser visited area of Central Park. Many cultural events take place here especially over the summer. The water is full of fish and turtles as well as plenty of ducks and geese. A great place for some rest and relaxation.

A beautiful and non-​touristy part of Central Park. Walking around this artificial lake, you feel like you are enjoying an amazing neighborhood park. And for one of those «only in NY» moments gaze from the southwest of the lake north to take in the view of the lake, the weeping willows, the cute boathouse, and the minimum security prison on Central Park North in the background.

This place has less tourist and more relaxed then other parts. Make sure to make a visit. Get some food and drinks from Maoz. Just relax.

I’m fairly new to the Central Park neighborhood. The Meer is a good place to quietly sit on the benches & people watch. People jogging & walking their pets makes it meditative. :-)

From previous Unilocal reviews, I was expecting peace and quiet but when I came here on Saturday Afternoon, there was a pow wow group playing drums non-​stop during the 3 hours I was there. There was also loud top 40 music playing in the neighborhood but the drums drown it out… lucky me.
With your drivers license, the harlem meer ecocenter gives you a fishing rod with cooked corn as bait (for free)… After 2 hours of fishing and moving from one spot to another, my friend and I didn’t catch anything, but we did witness other fishers catching fish from time to time and realized it was because they brought their own bait.
Tip: BYOB — I recommend you bringing your own bait — hotdogs, worms, etc.
I saw a lot of people running/​training near the pond, it is nice but I wouldn’t describe this pond as serene or peaceful — at least on Saturday afternoons.

First time at Harlem Meer, although I have walked by it several times. I walked the entire length of the Meer. It was a pleasant walk. I enjoyed the scenery. It was quite peaceful.

me and my lil buddy were strolling through just amiring the tranquility of it all don’t worry, my lil buddy didn’t leave any fertilizer on the grass, so if any is found it wasn’t him we kept it clean and serene

This is a beautiful place in Harlem. You can take a leisurely stroll around the Meer and it will only take about 15 — 20 minutes. You can see ducks swimming or napping under a shady tree, turtles hanging out on logs, fish (catfish?) swimming close to the shoreline, seasonal geese, and even a swan during the warmer part of the year that looks like in flew in from a fairytale somewhere. There’s benches all around if you want to sit, relax, maybe eat or listen to music, and just watch the trees and the water. There’s a nice sandy area for kids to come play, fishing rods that you can rent at the boathouse to test your skills, and a few playgrounds surrounding the Meer walk as well. The flower garden which is free to enter and very peaceful to visit is directly behind the Meer at its southern edge. Come take a walk here anytime!

It is a nice, quieter, less crowded part of the park. For the peacefulness, size of the lake, and activities it rates pretty high. If you’re looking more to be wowed then go south young man.

This is one of my favorite parts of Central Park. It is rarely crowded and there is a path that you can run on that takes you around the entire lake. The views are stunning and it is a really relaxing place to hang out if you want to get away from the craziness of the city.
You can also check out the Conservatory Garden which is gorgeous and truly one of the most romantic spots in the city. If you haven’t been there you need to check the Garden out. I highly recommend checking this corner of the park out. You won’t be disappointed.

Great spot anchoring the northeast corner of Central Park. The path around the meer wanders a bit, creating unexpected vistas, so a stroll takes longer than you’d think.
But there’s plenty to keep your attention. The faux-​Victorian cottage on the north side houses a center for educational and cultural programs (plus bathrooms). The adjacent playground is best for older kids who like to climb. The water is particularly algae-​laden here but it all looks clean, and the resident ducks seem happy enough. There’s a tiny sandy beach, locals fishing (with serious-​looking equipment), and the occasional food vendor.
The Meer is a good jumping-​off point for the other wonders of the neighborhood: Lasker Rink, the Conservatory Garden, and an increasing number of interesting restaurant options in East Harlem.

Walking by the Harlem Meer the other weekend on a nice sunny day I just had to notice how peaceful it was, but also how full of activity the spot had going on.
This man made lake is pretty large for a body of water on the far northeast corner of Central Park, and offers great views and picture opportunities. Benches all around, groups of people picnicking, free fishing, snack booth, bathrooms in a little Hansel & Gretel type little house (Charles A. Dana Discovery Center), playgrounds close by, and even live music performances lakeside in the summer. The Lasker Rink and Pool is also close by for summer swimming and winter ice-​skating.
It’s actually a great spot to take a nice walk around, or relax on a bench and watch the world meander by. At winter time after a snowfall it is also a picturesque serene scene.

FREE fishing? Seriously, what isn’t free in NYC? I need to write a whole book on this.
Come out here, get your free fishing rods and some corn. Hm, we tried fishing with corn for a bit but only the baby birds tried to grab ‘em. Luckily, there’s a whole community of fishermen & women here. We met a mom and daughter who gave us their cut up shrimp-​result? We caught about ten fish over the course of an hour. When we couldn’t get the hooks out, random strangers did it for us within a few seconds. Awesome.
Some others caught a turtle, which really hurts ‘em. You’re supposed to try to unhook ‘em of course, or cut off the line. We had to do that with ours when we lent our rods to a couple of kids. Yet, they didn’t charge us like it says they would. Good times.
Talk about a romantic date-​fish for a few hours, then walk down Museum Mile to get some culture on.

Meer is Dutch for «lake» or «small sea.» Landscape-​wise, the Harlem Meer is one of the most beautiful places in Central Park. In the winter when the lake is frozen over and there is snow in a jagged, patchy pattern on the rocks and ice– it is gorgeous. It’s one of those things you need to catch– when it’s completely covered, it’s also nice, but it’s in those few intermediate days when some but not all of the snow has melted that it is most riveting.
Looking online I didn’t find any pictures resembling what I am describing, which shows how rare it is for people to actually come up here. The Meer is best viewed from the northeast corner going down, so unless you were coming from Harlem and walking south you might not notice how nice it is. At sunset the water often catches a reflection of the trees and rocks. Compared to the flat, clear plain of Sheep Meadow or the geometric Mall, for examples, the Meer is more textured and complex, with dramatic heights on the southwestern side, fun rocks to climb, and a marshy shore line.

In true Harlem Unilocal fashion, the FTR for the Meer occurs in 2010.
Founded by the Dutch in 1421, «Meer» is Dutch for «a whale’s vagina». «You’re like an island of reality… in an ocean of diarrhea», the leashless dog said to the Meer. Folks come here to sit on benches and look at the manmade body of water, and I don’t blame ‘em. Turtles love it, Knishes love it, and the Meer loves them back.