Chelsea Recreation Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chelsea Recreation Center |
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| Alternative names | Chelsea Rec Center |
| General information | |
| Location | Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City |
| Address | 430 West 25th Street |
| Coordinates | 40°44′54″N 74°00′07″W / 40.74838°N 74.0020°W |
| Construction started | 1973 |
| Completed | May 11, 2004 |
| Cost | $22.4 million |
| Owner | City of New York |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 6 |
| Floor area | 56,500 square feet (5,250 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Koutsomitis Architects |
The Chelsea Recreation Center is a big community and sports place in Chelsea, Manhattan. It's run by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. This center is one of the largest in New York City.
It covers about 56,500 square feet. Inside, you'll find a 25-yard swimming pool with six lanes. There's also a volleyball court and a basketball court. You can use fitness rooms, dance studios, and game rooms. There's even a computer area for everyone. The center offers many classes and events for the community. Many of these are free for kids and older adults.
Contents
History of the Chelsea Recreation Center
The story of the Chelsea Recreation Center is quite interesting. It shows how a community worked hard to get a place for sports and fun.
Building a New Center
Back in 1964, the old Chelsea Recreation Center was torn down. This old center was once a bathhouse. It was removed to make space for a postal building. So, a new recreation center was planned.
Construction on the new center began on June 3, 1974. But work stopped on January 19, 1976. This happened because New York City was facing money problems. Windows were covered with concrete. Steel beams were left exposed. An air conditioner unit stayed on the roof, waiting for work to restart.
Community Efforts for Completion
For the next 25 years, people in the neighborhood kept asking for the center to be finished. They talked about it at many meetings. Local groups even hired experts to help them convince the city. They wanted their recreation center back.
Finishing the Project
In the early 2000s, New York City's economy got better. This meant there was money to finish the center. On June 7, 2001, important leaders came together. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, state senator Thomas Duane, and city council members like Peter Vallone, Jr. and Christine Quinn helped restart construction. They even swung gold sledgehammers to mark the event!
A beautiful mural was added next to the pool. It has five panels made from 175,000 tiles. The design is based on dolphin photos by Tsuneo Nakamura. This mosaic was a gift from the Italian Trade Commission and Bisazza Mosaico.
The center was finally finished on May 11, 2004. The total cost was $22.4 million. Mayor Michael Bloomberg officially opened it. He cut a ribbon at a ceremony in the center's gym.
Membership at the Center
The Chelsea Recreation Center wants everyone to be able to use its facilities. That's why they have different membership options.
Membership Costs
- For kids under 18, membership is completely free!
- Adults usually pay $150 per year.
- Young adults, aged 18-24, pay only $25 per year.
- Members over 62 years old also pay $25 per year.
These low fees are part of a city plan. The city wants to help improve public health. They believe that city-run centers should be affordable. This makes them much cheaper than private gyms.
- NYC Parks
