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:
- 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.
- Astoria Park
Pool and Play Center, Landmarks Preservation Commission
June 20, 2006, Designation List 377 LP-2196 (accessed 19 May 2017).
- Hatton, John M. (architect), Astoria Park and Play Center, docomo-us.org
(accessed 19 May 2017).
- New historical marker
acknowledging the WPA installed by Parks Department in March 2022.