Things to do nearThe Central Park Turtle Pond

The Central Park Turtle Pond was created in the 1980s when the old Belvedere Lake was redesigned to support a thriving population of red-eared sliders and painted turtles. The shallow, plant-rich water was carefully restored to attract wildlife, and today it serves as one of the park's most rewarding spots for quiet nature observation in the middle of New York City.

Visitors to the Central Park Turtle Pond find themselves scanning the water's surface for the slow parade of turtles climbing onto logs and rocks to warm themselves in the sun. The pond also draws a surprising variety of birds, from mallards and cormorants to the occasional night heron roosting in the willows. Looming directly above on its rocky outcrop, Belvedere Castle frames every view and houses a nature observatory run by the Central Park Conservancy.

The surrounding landscape connects naturally to some of the park's finest attractions. Just to the south, Delacorte Theater hosts the beloved free Shakespeare in the Park productions each summer. The Central Park Turtle Pond rewards the unhurried visitor who takes time to sit, watch, and let the city fade into the background.