McCarren Park Pool, the famed venue for popular Jelly NYC concerts in Williamsburg, is reverting back to its original use. As part of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC initiative, the pool is being rehabilitated into an aquatic recreational center that will be open for neighborhood residents throughout the year. The renovation, designed by Rogers Marvel Architects, is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification.
It may be hard to imagine your former favorite concert venue as being under water. McCarren Pool ceased being a watery oasis in 1984, but was repurposed into a concert, dance, and outdoor film venue in 2005. Bloomberg’s plan will revive the historic bath house and entry arch, whose peeling paint have seen better days, even during the concert days. The new summer time hot spot will include the rehabilitated pool, a recreation center, a snack shop, and rooftop café!
During winter, the sunken pool “beach” can be used as an ice skating rink. Just yesterday, the city issued an RFP for prospective ice rink operators. Once the pool reopens, arts and music programming will return, combining all of the pool’s former uses.
The $50 million funding from PlaNYC helped to make the rehabilitation of the pool, that was originally built in 1936 by Robert Moses. The LEED project uses sustainable materials and construction practices, including salvaged Coney Island Boardwalk wood, which infuses a little history into the project.
The construction is nearly complete, with the estimated completion to be Spring of 2012! So Williamsburg and Greenpoint residents, get excited for a summer of beating the heat in your brand new pool!
