Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani -- joined by City Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone, Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern, Design and Construction Executive Deputy Commissioner Michael Burton, and Community Assistance Commissioner Rosemarie O'Keefe -- today announced that construction will resume on a community recreation center in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan that was halted more than 25 years ago.

The Mayor announced complete funding for the construction of the $17.5 million state-of-the-art recreational facility to be managed by the Parks Department. The Chelsea Recreation Center, located at 430 West 25th Street, will cover six floors and include a swimming pool, full-court basketball court, locker rooms, arts and crafts space, a café, gymnasium, and weightlifting and aerobics areas.

"Today we are reviving an important community project that has stood idle for 25 years," Mayor Giuliani said. "The Department of Design and Construction is now forging ahead to bring much-needed, affordable recreational facilities to the Chelsea community. When this project is completed, the Chelsea neighborhood will benefit greatly from a multi-purpose sports facility that offers significantly low, annual membership fees to people of all ages."

Commissioner Stern said, "For a quarter century the Chelsea Recreation Center has been entombed, a victim of fiscal crisis. Today Mayor Giuliani tore down the wall that has shut this building off from the people that it will now serve."

DDC Commissioner Kenneth Holden said, "We will construct the Chelsea Recreation Center on an aggressive schedule so the community can have maximum benefit of the facility as soon as possible. In fact, we expect the majority of the project to be open for business by the end of this calendar year."

Community Assistance Commissioner Rosemarie O'Keefe said, "I am pleased that the Giuliani Administration is fulfilling the Chelsea community's long-awaited hope for an affordable recreational center."

The completed 56,500 square-foot Chelsea Recreation Center will improve upon the original design conceived almost 30 years ago, providing state-of-the-art recreational facilities. The Center will feature a 25-yard, 6-lane pool and gymnasium equipped with a full-court, high school regulation basketball court, bleachers, as well as space for gymnastics and ballet. The pool will accommodate lifeguard training and learn-to-swim programs. The fitness area will include space for cardiovascular equipment, boxing, aerobics, yoga, dance classes and an area for senior programming. The Center will also include pre-school classrooms, a concession space, and a computer lab. The facility will be outfitted with an elevator to accommodate all users. The Center is expected to be self-sufficient with operating costs being covered by membership fees and other rental and concession revenue.

The history of the Chelsea Recreation Center dates back to the late 1960s, when the project was conceived. The project went into design phase from 1970 to 1973 and construction began in 1973. Due to the City's fiscal crisis, construction on the Recreation Center ceased in 1976. Since then the Center was never opened and has stood as a reminder of a time when the City's finances were in disarray.

The Parks Department runs 35 recreation centers throughout the City, as well as 10 indoor pool and 53 outdoor pools, which include Olympic-sized, intermediate, and mini-pools.

www.nyc.gov