Tony Dapolito Rec Center In Greenwich Village Closed By The City

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY — After briefly reopening in June from the pandemic, the Parks Department has closed the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center in Greenwich Village due to "potential structural issues."

The structural issues were found during an ongoing construction project on the center's exterior at 1 Clarkson Street on 7th Avenue, according to a Parks Department news release.

The ongoing construction at the Greenwich Village rec center is a $9.9 million project funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio that will reconstruct and stabilize the exterior sections of the building, including the west facade and egress stair tower.

Construction on the project started in the fall of 2020.

"While we never wish to close our recreation centers, we have found potential structural issues that necessitate we close Tony Dapolito until further notice," a spokesperson from the Parks Department told Patch. "We understand how important this center is for the community, and we're focused on conducting further assessments and determining next steps."

The Tony Dapolito Recreation Center was built in 1908. When open, the recreation center boasts an outdoor and indoor pool, an artificial turf field, basketball courts, ping pong tables, and much more.

The Parks Department is currently assessing the structural damage and plans to share more information in the coming weeks. The original project construction was estimated to be completed in March 2022, but it's unclear how long the structural assessments will push the end date back.

The Parks Department recommends Lower Manhattanites utilize nearby recreation centers during Tony Dapolito's closure, including Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center and Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center (formerly Recreation Center 54).

You can find out more about the closure here.