West Village preservationist groups are outraged over the city’s recently announced plan to demolish and replace the beloved Tony Dapolito recreation and aquatic center.

Opponents of the proposed project claim that the landmarked structure — which opened in 1908 and features an iconic mural by the artist Keith Haring — has been subject to years of neglect by the city and was shuttered in 2019 due to the disrepair.

Now, city officials with the parks department and the mayor’s office have introduced a new solution for the aging building — which involves tearing it down to make way for a brand new complex — and finding space for the mural in the renovated property.

Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, an advocacy group leading the charge to restore the space, call

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