Central Park’s Renaissance Woman: Norma Dana’s Elegant Upper East Side Home Hits the Market

The Upper East Side has long been home to some of New York City’s most influential figures including Norma Dana, a civic leader whose vision and passion helped restore and preserve one of the city’s most treasured landmarks: Central Park.

Now, for the first time in years, Dana’s private sanctuary at 550 Park Avenue is on the market. True to Norma’s impeccable eye for beauty and detail, the residence is a breathtaking space filled with classic elegance and bathed in light.

This high-floor home offers sweeping skyline views stretching to the East River, generously proportioned rooms, and timeless pre-war details.

Norma Dana, who passed away in 2024, was the founding force behind the Central Park Conservancy Women’s Committee, which she launched over 40 years ago when the park was in a state of disrepair. Under her leadership, the Women’s Committee blossomed into a powerhouse of philanthropy, raising over $200 million since its inception in 1983 and growing to more than 1,000 members strong.

Thanks to Norma’s commitment and tireless advocacy, numerous buildings and landscapes within the park were restored — and her legacy is permanently honored in the Dana Discovery Center, which she and her husband Charles helped bring to life.

Last month’s famed Hat Luncheon, one of New York’s most beloved springtime traditions and the Women’s Committee’s signature fundraiser, raised over $4 million and paid tribute to Norma’s lifelong dedication to the park she so adored.

Attendees included A-listers like Scarlett Johansson and Martha Stewart, all there to celebrate both the beauty of the park and the woman who helped save it.

The apartment reflects the grace, dedication, and spirit of a woman whose work transformed the heart of Manhattan.

View the full listing here