By Gus Saltonstall
The Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, along with the Model Sail Boat Pond, are about to get a combined $37 million restoration project, the Central Park Conservancy announced on Wednesday.
Starting in August, the Bethesda Fountain will be turned off for approximately one year while crews repair and restore the more than 150-year-old structure from the inside out. During that time, Bethesda Terrace will remain open so visitors can still walk through the space, but the fountain will be enclosed for construction.
The work will restore the fountain’s water circulation, bringing renewed movement to its pools. At the same time, conservators will recreate missing historic sculptural details, aimed at preserving the original craftsmanship. The restoration will be led by the Conservancy’s in-house design team, which will ensure “the fountain’s historic character is preserved.”
“Bethesda Fountain is the heart of Central Park,” said Amy Tarr, who is one of the primary donors for the restoration project, in a news release. “Our family is honored to help preserve this extraordinary landmark so it can continue to inspire, delight, and remind people of the enduring beauty of Central Park for generations to come.”
The Conservatory Water Basin, which is just east of Bethesda Fountain, will also be getting a restoration. The pond where people race model sailboats was constructed in the 1860s and needs a restoration on multiple levels.
“For years, the pond has been losing water through cracks in its aging basin,” reads a news release from the Conservancy. “The Kerbs Boathouse beside it (built in 1954 and never substantially renovated) is showing its age as well, with outdated restrooms, cramped concession space, and accessibility barriers.”
The Conservancy will look to rebuild both, with the first phase aimed at reconstructing the pond basin with a new waterproof foundation, then the boathouse will undergo its first-ever comprehensive renovation, which will double the restroom capacity, create a “more efficient concession operation,” and improve accessibility at the site.
Construction on the pond will begin in late 2026, and work on the boathouse is slated to start in the spring of 2027. Both phases are expected to be completed by the spring of 2028.
“Bethesda Fountain and Conservatory Water are among Central Park’s most beloved treasures, drawing New Yorkers and visitors alike to some of Manhattan’s most iconic public spaces,” Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said in a news release. “I’m thrilled that the Central Park Conservancy is making an investment to preserve and enhance these historic landmarks for generations to come.”
You can find out more about the restoration projects — HERE.
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I heard there’s a guy who is fixing a much bigger water feature down in DC for significantly less money than this. Perhaps the city should reach out to him.
As long as they don’t get the same company that did the D.C. reflecting pool…
Thank you to the Tar family and the other very generous donors. Great work!