The Pool is the least-visited water in Central Park - a willow-lined pond in the North Woods with a waterfall running out of it toward the Loch - and at that hour the loudest thing is usually a heron. A group meditation on its lawns uses the one part of Central Park that still feels genuinely rural. Free, unstructured enough to join late, and a completely different park from the one below 96th Street.
What to expect
Expect people seated on the grass in loose formation around the water, minimal instruction, and long stretches of quiet broken by birds and the waterfall. The North Woods trails and the Ravine are immediately adjacent if you want to walk afterwards. Bring a mat, cushion or towel; the lawn is soft but often damp in the morning.
Good to know
- The Pool sits at Central Park's northwest corner near 100th Street; the B/C to 103rd Street is the closest stop.
- Free and open to anyone — no registration.
- Bring a mat, cushion or towel; the morning grass is usually damp.
- Bug spray helps near the water at dawn.
- Paths around the Pool are paved but sloped in places.
- The North Woods and the Ravine are a short walk for a longer morning.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
Is there a fee?
No — it is a free gathering in a public park.
Do I need meditation experience?
No, gatherings like this are open to beginners.
Where is the Pool?
At the northwest corner of Central Park, near 100th Street and Central Park West.
More this weekend
