Greenwich Village’s beloved community pool is entering its fifth summer being closed to the public due to its ongoing renovation, and the neighborhood has started to grow tired of its extended closure.
“Years and years go by and nothing happens,” Kitty Hegeman, a resident of Greenwich Village who had been using the pool for a decade, told The Post. “Each summer it looks worse.”
The Tony Dapolito Recreation Center pool, known for its Keith Haring mural and being the site of a scene in “Raging Bull”, was shuttered for renovation back in 2019. Plans to renovate the center located between the Village and Hudson Square for $4 million started in 2017, but the project soon expanded in scope and its budget quickly ballooned upwards of $17 million.
As of May 2024, only 72% of construction is completed, and the pool is still “in need of extensive renovations,” according to the city Parks Department. The city has tried to assure people of the area by communicating the expansive goals of the project and its expected payoff when completed, “This is one of our highest priorities and it is under active consideration,” Mayor Adams’ office said in a statement. “We are evaluating several scenarios to ensure we make the best investment for the neighborhood, maximizing recreation space in a cost-effective manner.”
However, many residents argue that the renovation process doesn’t seem like a priority as the pool enters its fifth year of being shuttered. “The damage from being closed defeats from being closed defeats the purpose of getting it fixed soon- you leave it long enough and it deteriorates and takes longer to fix,” said Cristina Diaz, 41, who lives in the Village area with her two young sons.
Another resident, Becca Quinn, 35, called the current state of the pool an “outrage and disservice” to the community, reporting that she now sees cracks and paint peeling away on the mural, despite the city saying they regularly maintain the art piece.
The city has advised residents to go to the Hamilton Fish Pool at 128 Pitt St. on the Lower East Side if they’re looking for a cool place to relax.
