Central Park Contact Numbers: Who to Call

Emergencies: when to call 911

Call 911 for any genuine emergency in Central Park — a medical crisis, a fire, a serious injury, or a crime in progress. The 911 system connects you to police, fire, and ambulance services across all of New York City, and it works exactly the same inside the park as anywhere else in Manhattan. Calls are free from any mobile phone, even one without service.

When you call, the dispatcher will ask where you are. The park is large, so look for the nearest lamppost: most Central Park lampposts carry a small four-digit number that pinpoints your location for responders. Reading those digits, or naming the closest landmark, path, or cross street, helps an ambulance or officer reach you quickly across 843 acres of paths and lawns.

Non-emergencies and city services: 311

For anything that is not an emergency, New York City runs a single information and service line: 311. Dial 311 from anywhere in the city to report a non-urgent problem, ask a question, or be connected to the right agency — including the NYC Parks Department, which oversees Central Park. From outside the city you can reach the same service at (212) 639-9675.

Use 311 to report a maintenance or safety issue such as a broken bench, a damaged path, a fallen branch, or graffiti, and to reach city programs like the Urban Park Rangers. It is the catch-all number when you are not sure who to call: explain what you need and the operator will route you. For a true emergency, always use 911 instead.

• Call 911 for emergencies: medical crises, fires, serious injuries, or a crime in progress.
• Call 311 for everything non-urgent: questions, lost property, maintenance issues, and city services.
• Not sure which to use? If someone is in danger right now, it is 911. If it can wait, it is 311.

Police in the park: the Central Park Precinct

Central Park has its own dedicated NYPD command, the Central Park Precinct, whose officers patrol the park on foot, by bike, and by vehicle. For a non-emergency police matter — reporting a minor incident, asking for help, or following up on a lost or found item — you can reach the precinct directly at (212) 570-4820.

The precinct station house sits inside the park, near the 86th Street Transverse Road that crosses mid-park. If a situation is urgent or anyone is in danger, do not wait on the precinct line — call 911, which reaches the same officers far faster. The direct number is best for routine questions and follow-ups once the moment has passed.

Who maintains the park: the Central Park Conservancy

Central Park is cared for day to day by the Central Park Conservancy, the private nonprofit that has managed the park under contract with the City of New York since 1980. The Conservancy raises most of the park budget and is responsible for the lawns, trees, benches, fountains, and landscapes you see — so general questions about the park, its visitor centers, and its grounds go to them.

You can reach the Conservancy at (212) 310-6600, generally Monday through Friday during business hours. They are the right contact for visitor information and park-related questions, but they are not an emergency service and do not run a public lost and found. For lost items or safety concerns, use the precinct or 311; for emergencies, use 911.

Nature, wildlife, and the Urban Park Rangers

The Urban Park Rangers are a New York City Parks Department program staffed by uniformed rangers who lead nature walks, run educational programs, and respond to wildlife concerns across the city, including Central Park. If you find a sick or injured wild animal — a bird, turtle, or raccoon, for example — they are the people to contact rather than handling it yourself.

You can reach the Urban Park Rangers at (212) 360-2774, or simply dial 311 and ask to be connected to them. For questions about ranger-led programs and guided walks in Central Park, the same number applies. If a wildlife situation ever poses an immediate danger to a person, treat it as an emergency and call 911.

The Central Park Zoo

The Central Park Zoo is located inside the park near Fifth Avenue and 64th Street, but it is operated separately by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), not by the Conservancy or the city. For zoo hours, tickets, membership, and visit questions, contact the zoo directly rather than a park line.

The Central Park Zoo can be reached at (212) 439-6500 for general information. Because the zoo is a ticketed attraction with its own staff and entrances, its team handles everything inside the zoo gates — so a question about the sea lions, the penguins, or admission is one for them, not for 311 or the Conservancy.

Lost and found, and reporting issues

Central Park does not run a single central lost and found office. Items of value that are turned in within the park are handed to the NYPD Central Park Precinct, so if you lose something — a phone, a wallet, a set of keys — the precinct at (212) 570-4820 is the place to ask. The station house near the 86th Street Transverse is where recovered property is held.

To report a maintenance or safety problem that is not an emergency — a hazard on a path, a broken fixture, or vandalism — call 311, which routes the issue to the NYC Parks Department. Keep this quick reference handy and you will always know who to call, whatever comes up during your visit.