The 1931 James Michael Curley-era bathhouse at the foot of L Street, birthplace of the L Street Brownies polar-bear swim club, rebuilt into a $31.2 million community center that reopened in 2023 with saunas, a fitness studio and the same beach frontage that made the original bathhouse famous for free public swimming.
What to expect
Entry fee
BCYF membership is limited to Boston residents with proof of residency; a family membership fee (around $5 as of the 2023 reopening) applied for the adjoining Family Friendly Beach program, exact current fee unconfirmed
Dogs
Boston requires dogs to be leashed on a leash no longer than eight feet whenever they are off the owner's property, including in every city park, and kept under control at all times; the Public Garden bans dogs entirely. Posted signs at…
Hours
Monday-Thursday 6am-8pm, Friday 6am-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 8am-3pm
Accessibility
Fully renovated in 2023 to be ADA-compliant
Swim
Allowed seasonal, subject to occasional Piping Plover nesting closures
Managed by
Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF Curley)
617-635-5104 · WebsiteWhat's here
On site
Restroom
Inside BCYF Curley Community Center
Showers
Steam rooms and saunas for men and women
Common questions
Is the beach at L Street free?
Historically yes, the bathhouse has provided free public beach access since 1931, though membership and small fees now apply to some center programs and access has occasionally closed for shorebird nesting.
Is there an entry fee at L Street Public Baths (BCYF Curley Community Center)?
Yes, BCYF membership is limited to Boston residents with proof of residency; a family membership fee (around $5 as of the 2023 reopening) applied for the adjoining Family Friendly Beach program, exact current fee unconfirmed
Can I bring my dog to L Street Public Baths (BCYF Curley Community Center)?
Boston requires dogs to be leashed on a leash no longer than eight feet whenever they are off the owner's property, including in every city park, and kept under control at all times; the Public Garden bans dogs entirely. Posted signs at the site take precedence.
Is L Street Public Baths (BCYF Curley Community Center) wheelchair accessible?
Fully renovated in 2023 to be ADA-compliant