Mayor Adams Unveils $164 Million Investment to Transform West Village Corridor Into New Recreation, Cultural, and Fitness Hub

August 7, 2025

Project Features Approximately 100,000 Square Feet of Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Spanning Three Properties and Featuring State-of-the-Art Facilities, Indoor and Outdoor Aquatics, Public Art, and Green Space

New Web-Based Community Input Portal Launched to Solicit Feedback and Inform Project Design Builds on Adams Administration’s Efforts to Make New York City Best Place to Raise a Family

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa today announced a transformative vision for the Clarkson Street corridor in the West Village. The city is investing nearly $164 million in the multi-agency project to enhance community health and wellness, develop local recreation space, and build more public space. Made possible, in part, through investments made in the city’s 10-Year Capital Plan as part of Mayor Adams’ “Best Budget Ever,” the project includes funding to build a new fully accessible outdoor pool and pool house on the site of the current Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, preserving the Keith Haring mural, and creating a new indoor recreation center to be located across the street. 

“A pillar of any community is its public spaces, which is where families and neighbors develop memories, participate in recreation, and share culture with one another,” said Mayor Adams. “This $164-million investment will revitalize a community that has consistently contributed to the rich history of our city. We will introduce new amenities into this neighborhood, including a fully accessible pool and pool house, as well as more affordable housing, all while honoring the rich history and legacy of the Keith Haring mural and preserving the community spirit rooted in West Village parks, where friends and families have long come together. Our mission is to make New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family, and visionary plans like this, which invest in local communities, is exactly how we do just that.”

“This is a transformational milestone for this neighborhood and for Manhattan as a whole — and thanks to Mayor Adams’ ‘Celebrate Swimming’ funding, we’re turning that vision into reality,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa. “From a brand-new indoor pool and basketball gym to honoring the legacy of Keith Haring’s mural, we’re celebrating history as we plan for the future with expanded amenities that support community wellness. This project reflects what residents have asked for: inclusive, free, and accessible recreation that inspires healthier, more connected neighborhoods.” 

Aerial view of the full revitalization plan for the Clarkson Street Corridor. Credit: NYC Parks

The holistic plan for the neighborhood will unlock nearly 100,000 square feet of new and improved indoor and outdoor recreation and deliver a new outdoor Aquatics Complex, a new recreation center at 388 Hudson Street, the preservation of Keith Haring’s Carmine Street Pool Mural, and the new passive recreation at Hudson-Houston Plaza. The plan for the Clarkson Street corridor is shaped by feedback from the community about the need for recreation facilities and programming. To build on that input, NYC Parks has also launched a community online input portal, inviting the public to answer questions about the types of recreation programming they would like to see, which will serve as both a feedback tool for future designers and a forum for residents to share ideas.

The nearly $164-million revitalization plan includes: 

State-of-the-Art Indoor Recreation Center: The Clarkson Street Corridor vision will deliver a multi-million fully ADA-accessible indoor recreational facility located within the New York City Housing Preservation and Development planned mixed-use development at 388 Hudson Street. It will feature a modern, ADA-accessible indoor pool, gymnasium, and other program spaces. The new design reflects a 60 percent increase in indoor square footage compared to what has been previously available in the community.

Example designs of a new, but different NYC Parks recreation center gymnasium and indoor pool (Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, Brooklyn; In Construction) Credit: NYC Parks / NYC DDC

New Outdoor Pool Aquatics Complex at Tony Dapolito: Tony Dapolito Recreation Center and the outdoor pool will see a transformation into a modern outdoor aquatics complex. The project will explore ways to honor the site's history, including the potential reuse of exterior building elements along Seventh Avenue and Clarkson Street. The entire site will remain a public park with all improvements dedicated to park use. 

Example of a different, modern accessible NYC Parks outdoor pool (Sheltering Arms; Manhattan) Credit: NYC Parks 

Public Art and Cultural Preservation: The plan reaffirms the city’s commitment to artistic heritage with the restoration of Keith Haring’s iconic Carmine Street Pool Mural. NYC Parks recognizes the deep cultural significance of the mural and will continue to partner with the Keith Haring Foundation, as it has done for over 30 years, to preserve this beloved artwork as part of the site’s reimagining. 

Diverse Recreational Programming: With spaces dedicated to both passive and active recreation, the Clarkson Street corridor will host programming that serves the West Village and Hudson Square communities, promoting wellness and offering a welcoming destination for all New Yorkers.

Dynamic New Public Space at Hudson Houston Plaza: This investment will transform an urban corner into newly accessible public open space, in partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Hudson Square BID. This vibrant, flexible multi-use gathering space inspired by Eduardo Kobra's iconic Ellis mural will feature greenery, shade, seating and art.

Rendering of Hudson Houston Plaza (Manhattan; Completed design) Credit: NYC Parks / NYC DEP/ HSBID

The vision underscores the Adams administration’s commitment to fostering spaces where art, history, and active lifestyles intersect. This initiative will be a collaborative effort with the community, integrating thoughtful design and public input to create a strong neighborhood corridor that stands as an example of New York City’s innovation in public space. 

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