Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Central Park’s Great Lawn closed until April due to damage from Global Citizen Festival, heavy rains
By
Verónica Del Valle
Published Oct 3, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Global Citizen
By
Verónica Del Valle
Published Oct 3, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Recent flooding from heavy rains and foot traffic from the Global Citizen Festival, an annual music event that draws thousands of people to Central Park’s Great Lawn, have forced the lawn to close for extensive repairs ahead of its usual fall maintenance closure, according to the organization that maintains the park.
On Tuesday, the Central Park Conservancy said heavy equipment and large crowds at the Sept. 23 festival damaged much of the Great Lawn and destroyed about a third of the grounds.
The conservancy said it hopes to have the lawn restored by next spring — the time of year it usually reopens after an annual closure starting in November — but that the area will remain publicly inaccessible until at least April.
The Global Citizen Festival raises money to alleviate extreme poverty worldwide and has been held at Central Park since 2012. Acts at this year's event included rapper and songwriter Lauryn Hill, Jungkook of South Korean boy band BTS, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
City Councilmember Gale Brewer, whose district includes Central Park and the Upper West Side, said the closure is unfair to her constituents who regularly use the park, and added that the festival should be relocated to a stadium or other venue to mitigate similar damage in the future.
"One-day concerts should not prevent the usage of the Great Lawn,” Brewer told Gothamist in an interview. “I feel strongly that that's not a fair alternative.”
Festival organizers said they consulted closely with city and park officials about heavy rainfall totals before the event and received the greenlight to hold it as planned.
“Ultimately, the city of New York, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Central Park Conservancy determined that this year's festival should go ahead," the organizers said in a statement. They added that Global Citizen “remains committed” as usual to assessing and covering the costs of any damage from the festival, in collaboration with the conservancy.
In its own statement, the parks department said it has a positive relationship with the organizers and is confident any damages will be fixed.
Tagged
manhattan
parks
Verónica Del Valle
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
The charge against him was upgraded following an “extensive investigation,” the DA’s office said.
By
Samantha Max
Published Oct 27, 2026 at 4:35 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 27, 2026 at 6:17 p.m. ET
Former NYC buildings boss helped reopen mayor's favored restaurant despite health violations
Phone calls played at during the trial of Eric Adams’ former buildings commissioner show he worried about losing his job for helping business owners fast track inspections.
By
David Brand
News
Former NYC buildings boss helped reopen mayor's favored restaurant despite health violations
Phone calls played at during the trial of Eric Adams’ former buildings commissioner show he worried about losing his job for helping business owners fast track inspections.
By
David Brand
1 killed, 4 others injured at Elizabeth, NJ vigil shooting
By
Catalina Gonella
Police arrest man in Queens stabbings that ended with officer shooting woman
By
Ryan Kost
Early Addition: It's been a while since it rained
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .