February 12, 2009: Vol. 32, No. 6

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February 12, 2009 / Brooklyn news / Greenpoint / Fitness

Pool plan goes swimmingly

Rogers Marvel Architects

Plans for the restoration of the McCarren Park pool are still going swimmingly — except for the diving area. That's now a sandpit.

By Ben Muessig

The Brooklyn Paper

The city’s $50-million plan to convert Greenpoint’s decaying McCarren Park pool from a dingy concert venue into, well, a pool is still on track — minus the proposed diving area.

Budget constraints have forced the Parks Department to nix plans for a 12-foot-deep diving pool — estimated to cost an extra $5 million — from the rehab of the landmarked Robert Moses swim center, officials told Community Board 1 on Feb. 10.

Heaven By Russo

“We tried very hard to keep the diving pool in, but when we crunched the numbers there was no way,” said Marty Maher, chief of staff for Brooklyn parks.

The diving pool will be replaced with a patch of sand and volleyball nets, which will be just one new component in the far-reaching plan to turn the underused facility into a 54,000-square-foot pool, a year-round community center with gym space and recreational rooms, and space for off-season activities like ice skating.

North Brooklyn residents who long fought for the pool consider the city’s plan a victory.

“After 20 years struggling to get this pool open, it’s gratifying to see this happen,” said Beth Goldowitz.

BoroDeal

Construction, which is scheduled to take two years, could begin this summer.

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Reader Feedback

Pacholo from Red Hook says:

I can't wait for the pool to open. My best memory of the pool was when Kelly Everts strolled in one day to take a dip. All the heads turn to her. She was the bonb.

Feb. 12, 2009, 10:51 pm

Dav from Brooklyn says:

I really don’t understand the city… people struggle every day to pay there bills especially this time in the year and now they spending millions of dollars
For a stupid swimming pool…. Did you know how many people can benefit if you passing 50 million dollar to help them survive… this is really nuts…
So it’s… Blumberg Blumberg and Blumberg …

Feb. 16, 2009, 12:29 pm

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