This underground station has two levels, each of which has from west to east, one side platform, one local track and one express track. Northbound trains stop on the upper level while southbound trains stop on the lower level. Both platforms have name tablets reading "72ND ST." in white sans serif lettering on a blue background and black border and small "72" signs in white numbering on a black background at regular intervals. Directional signs in white lettering on a black background are below the name tablets. Mosaic signs in white lettering on a blue background on the upper level direct passengers to the staircases going down to the lower level. 72nd Street is the closest station to both the Dakota and the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park. The 2018 artwork at this station is "Sky", a ceramic artwork by Yoko Ono, who lived in the Dakota. The artwork consists of clouds against a blue backdrop, and commemorates Ono's late husband John Lennon, who was killed outside the Dakota in 1980.
Exits
Both fare control areas are on the upper level platform and two staircases, one adjacent to each area, go down to the lower level. The full-time one at 72nd Street is at the north end of the platform. A staircase of four steps go down to a bank of three turnstiles that lead to a token booth. The other fare control area at 70th Street, at the station's south end, is unstaffed, containing High Entry/Exit Turnstiles. Two staircases connect the two platforms. There are currently three exits to the following locations:
Both western corners of West 72nd Street and Central Park West. The northwest staircase, outside the Dakota apartment building, is made of stone.
Southwest corner of West 70th Street and Central Park West. This entrance had previously been closed, but has since reopened.
Blue plywood walls and new tiling with a door on the upper level indicate there was a third exit that led to West 71st Street. Prior to the renovation of the station, further evidence of this exit's existence included directional signs with "71" that were covered or replaced with newer tiling and a fenced off staircase on the lower level. During the renovation of the station, the exit and its accompanying staircase between the two platform levels was temporarily uncovered and used as an area to haul out construction debris; the street staircase has since been re-sealed and the staircase between the two platform levels was closed again.
In film
The station entrance is seen in the Blue's Clues episode "Shape Searchers" during mail time as kids looks for shapes.
