
Crotona Park Pool
The 330-foot-long Crotona Park swimming pool built in 1936 by the WPA, photographed June 24, 2014, looking north. The grandstand goes around two sides of the pool, the other two sides are the bathhouse.
Crotona Park Pool
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2014Crotona Park Pool
Crotona Park Pool
Description
“This Olympic-size swimming pool and bathhouse complex opened on July 24, 1936. It was one of ten dedicated that year by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses (1888-1981). The project, funded by a special Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant of $10 million, featured a 925,000 gallon swimming pool, 39,000 gallon wading pool, 450,000 gallon diving pool and a bathhouse. The latter was designed by noted architect Aymar Embury II (1880-1966), and is an art deco interpretation of a French castle.”
This pool was one of many WPA projects in Crotona Park.
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The Crotona Play Center in Crotona Park, 1700 Fulton Avenue at East 173rd Street, Bronx NY
Still in use (summers only) 83 years after it was designed and built by the WPA in 1934.
The Crotona Play Center in Crotona Park, 1700 Fulton Avenue at East 173rd Street, Bronx NY
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
The Crotona Play Center in Crotona Park, 1700 Fulton Avenue at East 173rd Street, Bronx NY
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The Crotona Play Center on Fulton Avenue
Note the brickwork
The Crotona Play Center on Fulton Avenue
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
The Crotona Play Center on Fulton Avenue
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Crotona Play Center entrance
It's closed for the winter; originally it was kept open all year round; during the off-season "the bathhouse serves as a gymnasium. In freezing weather the pools are ice-skating rinks and at other times serve for paddle tennis, shuffleboard, volleyball, basketball, and handball" [June 24, 1936, Press Release].
Crotona Play Center entrance
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Crotona Play Center entrance
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Crotona Pool bathhouse entry for women, closed for the winter and with the service counter boarded up.
Crotona Pool bathhouse entry for women, closed for the winter and with the service counter boarded up.
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017
Crotona Pool bathhouse entry for women, closed for the winter and with the service counter boarded up.
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Crotona Pool bathhouse entry for men, closed for the winter and with the service counter boarded up.
Crotona Pool bathhouse entry for men, closed for the winter and with the service counter boarded up.
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017
Crotona Pool bathhouse entry for men, closed for the winter and with the service counter boarded up.
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Crotona Play Center- Gallery above the bathhouse entrances
Crotona Play Center- Gallery above the bathhouse entrances
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Crotona Play Center- Gallery above the bathhouse entrances
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The inside of the Crotona Play Center entry gate
Although the WPA was constrained to work with the cheapest materials (such as concrete and low-quality bricks), the creativity of the designers and workers always shines through, as on every surface of this structure.
The inside of the Crotona Play Center entry gate
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
The inside of the Crotona Play Center entry gate
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Another view of the Crotona Play Center gallery
Another view of the Crotona Play Center gallery
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Another view of the Crotona Play Center gallery
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Crotona Pool sign, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Crotona Pool sign, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Crotona Pool sign, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
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Crotona Park Play Center On Crotona Park West (Fulton Avenue) and East 173rd Street
Like many other WPA constructions (such as the Orchard Beach bathhouse and the Van Cortlandt Park grandstand) it has become somewhat discolored over the years due to the low quality of the constructions materials; the WPA saw its duty as spending as much of its budget as possible on employing people, which meant spending less on materials.
Crotona Park Play Center On Crotona Park West (Fulton Avenue) and East 173rd Street
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017
Crotona Park Play Center On Crotona Park West (Fulton Avenue) and East 173rd Street
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Crotona Play Center sign over the main entrance, 1700 Fulton Avenue, Bronx NY
Crotona Play Center sign over the main entrance, 1700 Fulton Avenue, Bronx NY
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Crotona Play Center sign over the main entrance, 1700 Fulton Avenue, Bronx NY
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Crotona Pool bathhouse entrance — complete with pelican — in Bathgate Playground
Crotona Pool bathhouse entrance — complete with pelican — in Bathgate Playground
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Crotona Pool bathhouse entrance — complete with pelican — in Bathgate Playground
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Closed-off entrance to the Crotona Pool grandstand for spectators at swim meets. Fulton Avenue between 172nd and 173rd Streets
Closed-off entrance to the Crotona Pool grandstand for spectators at swim meets. Fulton Avenue between 172nd and 173rd Streets
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017
Closed-off entrance to the Crotona Pool grandstand for spectators at swim meets. Fulton Avenue between 172nd and 173rd Streets
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Crotona Pool
Note the round New Deal frescoes in the alcoves.
Crotona Pool
Photo: Andrew Moore Source © Andrew Moore 2017 from Robert Moses and the Modern City 2005
Crotona Pool
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Entrance to the Crotona Pool and Play Center in Crotona Park on Fulton Avenue, Bronx NY
Entrance to the Crotona Pool and Play Center in Crotona Park on Fulton Avenue, Bronx NY
Photo: Andrew Moore Source © Andrew Moore 2017 from Robert Moses and the Modern City
Entrance to the Crotona Pool and Play Center in Crotona Park on Fulton Avenue, Bronx NY
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The Crotona Park bathhouse photographed June 24, 2014, during renovations
Note the Arte Moderne pelican topping the white pedestal separating the women's and men's restrooms entrances. The big photos show the pool "now" and "then".
The Crotona Park bathhouse photographed June 24, 2014, during renovations
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2014-6-24
The Crotona Park bathhouse photographed June 24, 2014, during renovations
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The seating area in front of the Crotona Park bathhouse, photographed during renovations
The seating area in front of the Crotona Park bathhouse, photographed during renovations
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2014-6-24
The seating area in front of the Crotona Park bathhouse, photographed during renovations
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Detail at rear of the Crotona Park swimming pool bathhouse
Besides the pelican, note the fanciful brick work. A page on the Parks Department website says, “the bathhouse features animal-themed sculptural elements (still visible today) created by Frederick George Richard Roth that illustrate the WPA-funded art of the era.”
Detail at rear of the Crotona Park swimming pool bathhouse
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2014
Detail at rear of the Crotona Park swimming pool bathhouse
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Brickwork at the entrance of Crotona Park's Bathgate Playground, adjacent to the Play Center's north side
Brickwork at the entrance of Crotona Park's Bathgate Playground, adjacent to the Play Center's north side
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Brickwork at the entrance of Crotona Park's Bathgate Playground, adjacent to the Play Center's north side
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Bathgate Playground entrance adjacent to the Crotona Park Play Center
Bathgate Playground entrance adjacent to the Crotona Park Play Center
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Bathgate Playground entrance adjacent to the Crotona Park Play Center
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Bathgate Playground entrance adjacent to the Crotona Park Play Center
Bathgate Playground entrance adjacent to the Crotona Park Play Center
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Bathgate Playground entrance adjacent to the Crotona Park Play Center
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Crotona Park Bathgate Playground (left) and Crotona Play Center (right), built by the WPA 1934-1941
Crotona Park Bathgate Playground (left) and Crotona Play Center (right), built by the WPA 1934-1941
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017-10-20
Crotona Park Bathgate Playground (left) and Crotona Play Center (right), built by the WPA 1934-1941
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Crotona Park Bathgate Playground
With spooky pelican obelisks by WPA sculptor Frederick George Richard Roth, similar to the pelicans on the bathhouse...
Crotona Park Bathgate Playground
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2017
Crotona Park Bathgate Playground
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Crotona Park Bathhouse
The Crotona Park bathhouse photographed June 24, 2014, during renovations. Note the Arte Moderne pelican topping the white pedestal separating the women's and men's restrooms entrances. The big photos show the pool "now" and "then".
Crotona Park Bathhouse
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2014
Crotona Park Bathhouse
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Crotona Park Pool
The 330-foot-long Crotona Park swimming pool, built in 1934-1936 by the WPA, photographed June 24, 2014; work underway to install new spray showers (yellowish area at left). On the left and lower right, a huge J-shaped concrete grandstand for swimming events. Rear and right, the bathouse designed by Aymar Embury II who also designed the Orchard Beach bathhouse and many other New York City landmarks of the 1930s.
Crotona Park Pool
Photo: Frank da Cruz Source © All Rights Reserved 2014
Crotona Park Pool
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