New York, a beautiful Keith Haring mural is at risk

In New York City , a historic mural by Keith Haring much beloved by residents, the one that decorates one of the walls of the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, a recreation and sports center in Greenwich Village that houses swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), basketball courts, gyms, and trails for runners, is in danger of being destroyed. In fact, the Park Department, the city agency responsible for managing the city’s parks and public recreation centers, has announced that it is considering razing the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center due to the poor condition of the building, which dates back to 1908. It is currently closed to the public (has been since the pandemic: it has never reopened), and some inspections have found the serious structural problems that plague it: hence the decision to close it indefinitely. According to the institution, given the delicacy of the complex, which is moreover the result of the union of three different buildings, and since some of its facilities (such as the playing fields) no longer meet today’s standards, rebuilding it from scratch would be cheaper than renovating it.

The problem is that on a wall of one of the pools is a large mural by Keith Haring, depicting swimmers, dolphins and a pool, dating from 1987: it is one of New York’s most beloved works of public art , and it even appeared in a movie( Larry Clark’s 1995Kids ). So, last July 19, the Preservation League of New York State, a heritage association, sent an open letter to the city’s mayor, Eric Adams, and other authorities, protesting the possible demolition of a building that is more than a century old, which moreover has also been on the National Register of Historic Places, since 2013. “The building was commissioned by the city and constructed in several phases, beginning in 1906-08, designed by the architectural firm Renwick, Aspinwall & Tucker, and has served the public ever since,” the missive recalls. “Originally designed as a public bathhouse occupying the eastern end of Hudson Park (now James J. Walker Park), the building has been an integral part of the park for the past 120 years. [...] NYC Parks’ claim at a recent Community Board 2 meeting that the structure is too difficult to renovate, in part because of its multi-phase construction, is completely unfounded. Countless historic monuments throughout New York City that have been restored, repaired, and preserved have also been altered over time [...]. Multiple phases of construction certainly do not prevent a building from being repaired, nor do they prevent a building from being preserved. The fact that the Recreation Center is in need of repair or that some of its interior structures do not currently meet standards is not a valid reason to demolish a protected historic building. It is alarming to hear city officials say that the deterioration of this building, the maintenance of which is the responsibility of the city itself, should be a green light for demolition. The building is undoubtedly in need of repair, but this is not a justification for its demolition. We strongly oppose the demolition of the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center and urge the city to take immediate steps to restore this public asset of historical, architectural and cultural importance so that the space can be reactivated and fulfill its original function as a place of recreation for the people of New York.”

In any case, even in the event of demolition, there may be a way to save Keith Haring’s mural. This is what the Park Department leaked in a statement made to Artnet News magazine. “We know that the mural is beloved by the community and a key piece of Keith Haring’s legacy,” the agency let it know. “We are in discussions with the Keith Haring Foundation about the mural’s restoration needs and are considering possible options.” At the moment, however, the fate of the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center remains uncertain: the entity has determined that a new recreation center will be created a short distance away, but no decision has yet been made on its possible demolition.

Pictured is Keith Haring’s mural. Photo: Tseng Kwong Chi © Muna Tseng Dance Projects Artwork © Keith Haring Foundation.

New York, a beautiful Keith Haring mural is at risk

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