The Tony Dapolito Recreation Center is a public recreational facility located in the heart of the West Village at 1 Clarkson Street. For more than a century, it has remained public property, providing accessible and affordable recreational services for generations of New Yorkers. The Center also boasts an outdoor pool adorned with a Keith Haring mural, a rare jewel of public art and point of pride downtown.

But on July 10, 2024 the Eric Adams administration announced that it planned to demolish the center.

The Coalition to Save the Public Recreation Center Downtown (“SPRCD” or “sparked”) was born out of the growing concern over the erosion of public spaces in our community, particularly those that provide vital services like the Tony Dap, as the Center is affectionately known.