Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Lasker Pool



Phelps Pool is not the only place where I would swim. On this day, I headed back out to my friend's place, changed, and then went jogging up Park Drive East, till I got to Lasker Pool. Lasker Pool.

Located in the upper part of Central Park, it overlooks the Harlem Meer, and is transformed into the Lasker Rink in the winter when it features ice-skating and high school hockey. During the summer months it is converted into one huge swimming pool. Perhaps the best feature about this pool. It is absolutely free of charge. Just make sure you have a GOOD padlock. I didn't and the park ranger took such pity on me, that he allowed me to store my things in his office.

The swimming pool replaced part of the Meer in the late 1960s,when the wealthy Lasker sisters thought it would be a wonderful philanthropic gesture to the children of the community. Many at the time, including the then current Parks Commissioner Newbold Morris desperately fought the construction, labeling a desecration of a sacred space. In 1966, the Pool opened to the public and the beautiful landscaping linking the Loch to the Meer would forever be changed and marred by this monstrous site. Yet, popular opinion defeated the opposition. Even today the controversy continues. The Lasker Rink and Pool still remains for many a horrible eyesore and for others a place that brings great joy and entertainment in the summer and winter months to the often neglected north quarter of the Park.

The length of a lap, from one end of the pool to the other, that is, is 50 meters long, or exactly double the length of Phelps pool. Incredible, isn't it. It is also only 3 feet deep, so there's never a worry for anyone, even those who are swayed away because of depths.

I did my bidding here this afternoon, as I was off this entire week, due to furlough (forced non-pay week off by my office), and swam a whopping 400 meters. However, don't get to excited y'all. Because just like all the other times, my biggest issue is, get this, endurance! I can't seen to swim for more than 100 meters without having to stop at one end of a pool and take several breaths.

Will I ever improve???? UGH!

4 comments:

DGA said...

I never saw that pool! Why should that be an eyesore for someone? Looks very nice to me!
Swimming is not your thing. Can't have it all, so take it for what it is, a way to strenghten your body, plus it's an excellent exercise which does not discriminate with any part of it (the body).

Good narrating. Let's see more of that.

DGA said...

I never saw that pool! Why should that be an eyesore for someone? Looks very nice to me!
Swimming is not your thing. Can't have it all, so take it for what it is, a way to strenghten your body, plus it's an excellent exercise which does not discriminate with any part of it (the body).

Good narrating. Let's see more of that.

DGA said...

I never saw that pool! Why should that be an eyesore for someone? Looks very nice to me!
Swimming is not your thing. Can't have it all, so take it for what it is, a way to strenghten your body, plus it's an excellent exercise which does not discriminate with any part of it (the body).

Good narrating. Let's see more of that.

DGA said...

What the hell happened to my computer?!!! My comments repeated three times!!!! I'm telling you, as soon as I get enough energy and madness I will open it up and change its guts. If it goes, it goes.