The clock is ticking on the fight to ensure the city’s 2026 budget — to be voted on by June 30 — doesn’t include any funding for demolishing the beloved landmarked Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, and that we begin the process of funding and planning for its renovation and reopening.

The City Council holds the key to this, and local City Councilmember Erik Bottcher must be the lynchpin of any such effort. But he’s not there yet. Following Village Preservation’s call for decisive action to save the Center, a coalition of downtown community groups (including VP) and local, citywide, and statewide preservation organizations have also called upon Councilmember Bottcher and other elected officials to use their power in the ongoing city budget process to save the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center.

Whether this landmarked community center will be saved will be determined in the next two weeks.

TO HELP: