NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

The Central Park Conservancy, in partnership with the New York City Parks Department, is the great caretaker of America's most frequented urban park. It was founded in 1980 by a group of civic and corporate leaders and today maintains the park; restores and conserves its sculptures, monuments and historic buildings; creates educational programs to teach ecology, design and history to students and teachers annually; and offers recreational programs for thousands of families at the North Meadow Recreation Center.

Among the many classic structures that the conservancy maintains is the venerable Dairy, a Gothic Revival building located between the zoo and the carousel. Built in 1870, it serves as the park's information center and houses exhibits about the design, architecture and history of the park. Maps and souvenirs are available here. The conservancy has also made possible the restoration of the 11-acre lake called the Harlem Meer and the creation of the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, which have signaled the rebirth of the northern section of the park.

• Directions: Subway: N or R to Fifth Avenue - 59th Street. Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 or M30 to East 64th Street; M66 to Fifth Avenue

• Disability Access: Fully accessible, except for Dairy bathroom.