Draining the Pool of its Party
The Times has a sort of elegy for McCarren Park Pool, which will probably stop hosting its “Pool Party” events after this summer as the city readies a $50 million renovation of the property that will turn it back into a swimming pool: …Perhaps no other concert space so clearly illustrates the swift effects of…
The Times has a sort of elegy for McCarren Park Pool, which will probably stop hosting its “Pool Party” events after this summer as the city readies a $50 million renovation of the property that will turn it back into a swimming pool:
…Perhaps no other concert space so clearly illustrates the swift effects of gentrification. Just as bohemian culture in Greenpoint and Williamsburg is having its most visible, celebratory moment, it is being bulldozed out of the neighborhood. Rows of gleaming luxury condominiums have sprung up alongside the park, and the tattoo-and-skinny-jeans set is getting priced out. That McCarren Pool will be filled with water again has pleased many longtime residents and activists. But at several recent concerts the prevailing opinion was: bummer.
The quotes from concert attendees on the one hand and longtime Williamsburg/Greenpoint residents on the other underscore the competing desires for how the space should be used. They let it rot for years and years, and now all of a sudden they’re like, ‘It’s viable to turn it into a pool again,’ says Liz Castaldo, a 23-year-old who lived in Williamsburg until a rent hike precipitated a move to Bushwick. In the other camp are people like Phyllis Yampolsky, founder of the McCarren Park Conservancy and a Greenpoint resident since 1982. The basic need of that pool is as a pool and recreation center for all the peoples of North Brooklyn, which includes a lot of black people and a lot of Latino people, says Yampolsky. Its basic needs are not for the fashionistas of Williamsburg.
It’s Been Quite a Pool Party, but the Days Grow Short [NY Times]
Photo by sjr7658.
Now THAT is a sight I can wrap my arms around. Mister Marty in goggles, a speedo and waterwings.
Instigating with mention of mansion? or with ex parte comment to Dave?
A public pool can cater to anyone in a community, the shows were definately catering to the Bedford ave transplant set. I applaud Jelly for what they did, however there were very few shows i cared enough to go to, and thats not to say I or Jelly have bad taste in music, a pool is gonna be better off for the community, and appeal to a wider range of people. Think of what the floating pool did last year off Bklyn Heights, it was more more of a multicultural happening than the Mcarren pool shows.
He’s got built-in water wings. The lipid-based ones.
Biff,
Sweet mother of jeebus –
I hope he remembers his waterwings.
Nokilissa, you little instigator, you.
With apologies to anyone who just ate, I wonder if Marty will show up in a speedo and bathing cap to cut the ribbon on the new pool.
Deadnancy, my thoughts exactly.
It seems this will be a fantastic space once turned back into a pool. I love pools. Even the orange-y tiled basement pool in the Dyker Heights “mansion” from Wednesday.
I think the Hipster/Douchebag love affair has run it’s course….
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
people may be bummed out but there isn’t any organized opposition to the return-to-pool effort. i guess the JellyNYC guy was sort of hoping for a groundswell but even he doesn’t seem that surprised. the brief concert period will be fondly remembered, that’s probably for the best all around.
So is Yampolsky saying black people don’t like music, or that hipsters can’t swim?
I’m very confused.