Belair Bath and Tennis Club, Southwest corner of Belair Drive and Tulip Grove Drive, Bowie, Prince George's County, MD

Significance: The Belair Bath and Tennis Club is an original feature and the first of three similar clubs in the "Belair at Bowie, Maryland," community, built by famed Levitt and Sons beginning in 1960. Levitt and Sons completed the club in time for the 1962 swimming season as it proceeded with construction of the surrounding three sections of Belair. Facilities for recreation were a key element of the company's planning methods and marketing strategies since the 1930s. Intended from the beginning to be a member-owned club and described at the time as "posh," the facility related more to the community centers of the company's pre-World War II Long Island developments than to the large neighborhood pools sprinkled throughout the three Levittowns.The decision to fund a private club with a limited membership instead of community pools open to all homeowners showed financial caution in response to changed market conditions as well as a desire to court more affluent prospective buyers.

Survey number: HABS MD-1265

Building/structure dates: 1961-1962 Initial Construction

suburbs suburban life suburbanization merchant builders large volume builders swimming pools swimming tennis courts tennis clubs associations parking lots perforated concrete block butterfly roof bowie md belair bath belair bath club tennis club southwest corner drive belair drive tulip tulip grove drive prince george maryland sports maryland sports historic american buildings survey james a jacobs levitt and son william j levitt photo prince george county ultra high resolution high resolution united states history library of congress

1933 - 1960

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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