MOG

NYC is getting some rejuvenations - the McCarren Park Pool that serves Williamsburg and Greenpoint will be restored and reopened, High Bridge will as well, and 1 million trees will be planted, 250,000 of which will line the streets.

According to the New York Times:

The McCarren Park pool, built in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in 1936 and closed in 1984, is one of 11 giant swimming pools built in the city as part of the Works Progress Administration.

Many, many bands have played huge concerts in the 50,000 square foot swimming pool. Bloc Party, Shins, Les Savy Fav. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sonic Youth, Spank Rock and Beirut to name just a few.

Les Savy Fav - performing live at McCarren park pool July 2006

The new plan will also restore many existing playgrounds - 290 total across the city, that will be shared by 360,000 kids. As it is now, 12,000 kids in East Flatbush, Brooklyn are sharing 3 playgrounds.

Because of the cost of land in the city, which generally prohibits building large new parks or playgrounds, the initiative relies on working with what already exists but has become unusable through age and lack of maintenance, officials said.

The New York Times article has a wealth of information and quotes from public officials, definitely click over and read it.

In closing, here is Sonic Youth performing at McCarren Pool as well :