For a majority of visitors from across New York and the world, Central Park is memorable for what they find at the southern end. That’s where the zoo is. And the carousel. And the pond where hobbyists launch their radio-guided sailboats. And the lake, where couples launch themselves in rowboats.

The southern part of the park is surrounded by some of the most affluent neighborhoods in the country and is in the shadow of “Billionaires’ Row,” where new condominium towers are stratospheric in height and price.

The northern end of the park is a different story. It is surrounded by less affluent blocks filled with largely African-American and Latino residents, has fewer must-see gems and draws significantly fewer visitors and far less attention.

That is about to change. The nonprofit group that manages Central Park is planning the largest project it has undertaken in its nearly 40 years: a $110 million investment in the mostly forgotten northern corner, which may not be on many tourists’ itineraries but which is a vital backyard to surrounding blocks where green space is scarce.