I want to go swimming. Sadly, this peninsular borough of ours suffers from a drought of swimming pools. And when a new pool is built (and let’s be frank — that rarely happens), taking a dip is no easy task.
Case in point: on Jan. 24, Long Island University officially opened the gym portion of its $40-million Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center at Flatbush and DeKalb avenues.
The center has the requisite amenities — aerobics classes, treadmills, free weights. But more important, it has an indoor pool. And I hear it’s great.
You see, we would-be swimmers must make do with pressing our noses to the proverbial glass, gawking at the chlorinated blue rectangle below.
And all this, despite vague commitments by LIU that the new center would be open to the community.
“This [ceremony] will provide a lasting reminder of the important role that the center will play in safeguarding and in improving the health and quality of life for members of the campus community as well as the community at large,” LIU President David Steinberg said in a press release issued by the university after the recreation center’s groundbreaking in October 2004 (italics added for emphasis).
I know, I know, that’s hardly an ironclad promise. But in this waterless borough of ours, can’t a lady dream?
According to the Parks Department Web site, Manhattan is home to six city-operated indoor pools, while Brooklyn has only three. (Sure, we’ve got beaches, but they’re only good in the summer or if you’re a Polar Bear. And we do have a seemingly endless supply of private health clubs, several within walking distance of LIU.)
One community leader — speaking anonymously, for fear of irritating his colleagues at LIU — wished the school was more a part of the surrounding community.
“Many people choose to live in college towns because universities offer great amenities,” he said. “If LIU has the capacity, it would be nice if the wellness center could be open to the public.”
Councilwoman Letitia James (D–Fort Greene) said she’s been working with the school to make the center “available to seniors at a reduced cost,” but “there are some issues” remaining to be resolved.
As much as I’d like to be swimming soon, I had to admit that the university’s spokeswoman, Peg Byron, had a point.
Not only did Steinberg, the LIU president, never explicitly promise to open the pool to the community, but there might actually be a capacity issue.
“This is the only workout area we have,” said Byron.
Even so, can’t we come to some sort of pool-sharing agreement? How about Fort Greene residents bring home-cooked meals to the kids in exchange for swimming rights? After all, indoors pools are so rare, and town-gown relationships so important. Swim on it and let me know.
The Kitchen Sink
If you think the best gift is one that keeps on giving, than grab your hoes! A soon-to-be-implemented Fort Greene Park Conservancy program will allow residents to sponsor trees and benches in Fort Greene Park. Call (718) 222-1461 for more information or visit www.fortgreenepark.org. …
Did you see the trash cans in the Atlantic Avenue and DeKalb Avenue stations on Thursday? They looked like fountains spewing trash sitting in circular pools of debris. And they stank. Why must New York City Transit make it so easy to kvetch? …
Do you want some hip-hop with that hamantaschen? On Mar. 3, BAMCafe is hosting the Hip Hop Hafla Purim Party for the launch of Shemspeed, a music PR company. Come dressed in your best Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus costumes (our suggestion, not theirs) to hear live hop-hop and reggae artists Kosha Dillz, Niz, and Shem Disciples, not to mention a live megillah reading. For information, visit www.shemspeed.com. …
And finally, a public service message, of sorts. If you think you’re about to get lucky in Fort Greene or Clinton Hill, you can pick up some of the city’s free, subway-branded condoms at Five Spot Soul Food Restaurant (459 Myrtle Ave. at Washington Avenue), Moe’s Bar (80 Lafayette Ave. at S. Portland Avenue), Mojito (275 Park Ave. at Flushing Avenue), Stonehome Wine Bar (87 Lafayette Ave. at S. Portland Avenue), and Tillie’s (248 DeKalb Ave. at Vanderbilt Avenue). …
We hear that 50 Hanson Pl., currently rental apartments, is going condo. …
Shahn Andersen has begun interior work on Broken Angel, the Clinton Hill ziggurat owned by artist Arthur Wood. Someday maybe Wood will even be able to move back in.
