the asser levy recreation center is a recreational facility in kips bay, manhattan, new york city, composed of the asser levy public baths and asser levy playground.it is bounded by east 23rd street to the south, east 25th street to the north, and fdr drive to the east.along with the former asser levy place to the west, it was named after asser levy, one of new york city's first jewish citizens and a strong and influential advocate for civil liberties.the asser levy public baths, the recreation center's main building, was designed by arnold w. brunner and martin aiken.its main entrance on asser levy place consists of two large arches flanked by pairs of columns.inside are recreational rooms, a swimming pool, and lockers.it originally had separate waiting rooms and showers for men and women, though the waiting rooms were subsequently combined and the showers relocated.outdoor recreational facilities, including additional swimming pools and the playground, surround the bathhouse.the bathhouse was built in 1905–1908 to alleviate sanitary problems in the city and was transferred to the new york city department of parks and recreation (nyc parks) in 1938.originally known as the east 23rd street baths, it was renamed for levy in the mid-20th century.the building was designated a new york city landmark in 1974 and added to the national register of historic places in 1980.it was restored by nyc parks in 1988–1990, and the other recreational facilities were built in 1993 and 2014.the 2.44-acre (0.99 ha) site is bounded by 23rd street to the south, the va medical center to the west, 25th street to the north, and the fdr drive and the east river to the east.the western side was formerly bounded by asser levy place (originally avenue a), a street between first avenue to the west and fdr drive in the east.asser levy place was removed in 2013.the asser levy public baths, at the southwestern corner of the recreation center, is roughly cross-shaped in plan and measures roughly 163 by 140 feet (50 by 43 m).built in the first decade of the 20th century, it was designed by arnold w. brunner and martin aiken of the shortlived partnership brunner & aiken, although aiken may have been more involved than brunner.the roman revival design was inspired by roman baths and the 'city beautiful' movement.the building was particularly ornate, even in comparison to other new york city bathhouses built in the first decade of the 20th century.other bathhouses were designed to be 'easily recognizable', but lacked 'all outward display of lavishness [...] as it would only keep the poor people away'.the main entrance faces west onto the former path of asser levy place, now part of the recreation center's outdoor facilities.it contains two arches, each flanked by a pair of round columns, that were originally separate entrances for men (northern doors) and women (southern doors).within each arch is a pair of small doors, flanked by scrolled brackets supporting triangular pediments atop each doorway.the remainders of either archway are infilled with a grid of windows containing diagonal muntins, while the archways themselves contain scrolled keystones at their tops.architectural historian robert a. m. stern wrote that the main arches 'were more like portals to a great amphitheatre than frames around doors to a hygienic facility'.between the archways, there is a decorative niche with a fountain, which is topped by the shield of new york city.the top of the facade above the main entrance contains a frieze, a cornice supported by modillions, and an architrave.
asser levy public baths | location | new york city <tsp> manhattan | leadername | gale brewer <tsp> new york city | ispartof | manhattan <tsp> new york city | ispartof | brooklyn
the asser levy recreation center is a recreational facility in kips bay, manhattan, new york city, composed of the asser levy public baths and asser levy playground.along with the former asser levy place to the west, it was named after asser levy, one of new york city's first jewish citizens and a strong and influential advocate for civil liberties.the roman revival design was inspired by roman baths and the 'city beautiful' movement.