The Harlem Meer is named after Harlem, and the dutch word for lake “Meer”. It was originally built as part of Harlem Creek, which drained into the East River. During the nineteenth century the lake and surroundings did not have as many amenities. As New York City grew, the population around the Meer also expanded. A boathouse and walking paths were added and the shoreline restored by the 1940s. However, the Harlem Meer was in ruins by the 70s, and it was reconstructed by Central Park Conservancy between 1988-1993. At 11 acres, it is the second largest manmade body of water in Central Park . I started to wonder what it means for a man-made lake to be consumed by a man-made problem like plastic.There are of course recycling bins around the park, but somehow\ ,plastic finds its way into the aquatic ecosystem. Sometimes, it’s in plain sight. Other times, plastic seems to almost blend in, an unwanted but inevitable stranger. Plastic pollution is a danger to wildlife. In 2020, a duck was ensnared by plastic at Central Park. A piece of plastic, reportedly of ring of a plastic container was wrapped around the duck’s bill and neck, and park rangers tried to rescue it. Often, wildlife might mistake plastic for food, and this poses a serious danger to them.