Photo: Frank da Cruz, June 2015
See
St. Mary's Park gallery
Saint Mary's Park in the Bronx: This is a small recreation center and comfort station in the Park at St. Ann's Avenue and 173rd Street, designed by Aymar Embury II in 1938[1]. Now it is a just comfort station with some Parks Department storage space; a new recreation center opened in another part of the Park in 1951[2].
References:
- Building Plans Filed, New York Times, 16 March 1938, p.41: "St. Mary's Park e s St. Ann's Ave, opposite 147th St; 1-story brick recreation building and comfort station, 50x32, Dept of Parks,... Aymar Embury 2d, architect; cost $10,000."
- St. Mary's Park, NYC Parks Department: "After World War II, Parks Commissioner Robert Moses inaugurated a city-wide recreation program to provide places to play and socialize in cold weather months. New York's first full-service, indoor recreation center opened at St. Mary's in 1951. Designed by the architectural firm of Brown, Lawford, and Forbes, the building housed an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, locker and shower rooms, and meeting rooms for classes and community programs."