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Central Park's gorgeous Conservatory Garden has reopened after years of construction

Visiting feels like a taking stroll through a European garden without having to buy a plane ticket.

Rossilynne Skena Culgan
Written by
Rossilynne Skena Culgan
Things to Do Editor
The recently restored Center Garden at dusk, showcasing the illuminated fountain and pergola
Photograph: Courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy
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For the past three years, tall fences closed off one of the most beautiful parts of Central Park. Now, after three long years of extensive restoration, the spectacular Conservatory Garden is open once again and is in full bloom. 

The Conservatory Garden is a six-acre formal garden located in the northeastern quadrant of the park known for its peaceful design and historic charm. The garden underwent at $25 million glow-up, the most significant investment in the space since it was built in 1937, the Central Park Conservancy announced this week. Go see it along Fifth Avenue between 104th and 106th Streets in Central Park. 

RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Central Park

The garden's three distinct styles—French, Italian, and English—have attracted many weddings and photoshoots over the years.  It's also a beloved spot for New Yorkers looking for a moment of tranquility in the city. Visiting feels like a taking stroll through a European garden without having to buy a plane ticket.

In the springtime, peonies and lilacs surge into bloom at the Conservatory Garden. In the fall, look for a bevy of mums among the garden's neatly trimmed hedges.  

The recently restored Center Garden at dusk, showcasing the illuminated fountain and pergola
Photograph: Courtesy of Central Park Conservancy

While many of the garden's horticultural elements were addressed in 1983, this restoration focused on the comprehensive renewal of its historic hardscape, such as restoring bluestone pavers, updating stormwater draining, modernizing fountains, installing ramps and realigning paths. This type of restoration work hadn't been done at the garden in nearly 90 years. In addition, staff also replanted the Italian Garden's iconic crabapple allées with disease-resistant trees and repaired the steel pergola.  

This is a big year for upgrades to Central Park. The long-awaited Davis Center at Harlem Meer is now open. And the historic Delacorte Theater (where Shakespeare in the Park is staged every summer) will soon reopen after reconstruction. 

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