Bronx New Deal - Photo #160 - Astoria Pool (Queens)

    Enlarge
astoriapool01
Astoria Pool in Astoria Park, Queens, NYC, June 26, 2016, with the Triborough Bridge, the East River, Randall's Island, and Manhattan in the background, 26 June 2016.

This is one of the 11 pools built in NYC by the WPA in 1936, and perhaps the most famous. It was the site of the Olympic swimming and diving trials for the 1936 Olympics, just as Randall's Island Stadium was for track and field. The structure at lower right, next to the red umbrella, was an Olympic torch. There's one on the left too.

References:

  1. NYC Parks Department Press Release, July 1, 1936. Mayor LaGuardia, Park Commissioner Robert Moses, Works Progress Administrator Victor Ridder, Borough President of Queens George U. Harvey and Alderman Joseph J. Paretti will participate on Thursday, July 2nd at 8:30 P.M. in ceremonies in connection with the official dedication of the Astoria Swimming Pool at Hoyt and Ditmars Avenue, Queens. ... This is the third of ten new swimming pools being constructed by the Park Department with W.P.A. funds to be opened for use this summer.
  2. Astoria Park Pool and Play Center, Landmarks Preservation Commission June 20, 2006, Designation List 377 LP-2196 (accessed 19 May 2017).
  3. Hatton, John M. (architect), Astoria Park and Play Center, docomo-us.org (accessed 19 May 2017).
  4. New historical marker acknowledging the WPA installed by Parks Department in March 2022.