In an era of private grandeur, New York City has built a temple for the public in Queens: the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Natatorium and Ice Rink — it does not even have a corporate name — which is to open on Friday.Modern Pool for Public Is Opening in Flushing
The Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Natatorium and Ice Rink is opening Friday. It is the costliest recreation building ever erected in a city park, but Commissioner Adrian Benepe is delighted.
It is the largest and, at $66.3 million, the costliest recreation building ever constructed in a city park, said Adrian Benepe, commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation. Mr. Benepe, who recalled running on dismal public tracks with “swampy locker rooms” as a youth in the 1970s, said the new pool gave him goose bumps.
“This is an international, competition-level pool,” he said. And one that can be used free by youths 18 and under. Adults under 55 will pay $75 annually. Anyone older will pay $10 a year.
Next to the pool, but not yet open, is an 85-by-200-foot hockey rink. The city has constructed the rink, including the network of copper brine piping needed to make ice. The finishing work will be done by a concessionaire, which has not yet been chosen. The pool is operated under contract to the city by USA Pools of Roswell, Ga.
9 comments:
Well, certainly explains why the rest of the city parks are going to hell.
Interesting. The parks department is only interested in the parks ... when it comes to development.
Humm .....
F* that pessimistic noise.
Go try to swim at the Flushing YMCA, which makes my toilet seem like a paragon of cleanliness. This new pool is a great addition to Queens, will promote a healthy lifestyle for the youth and is a steal for the rest of us at only $75. Compare that to circa $50/month at a grimy YMCA.
I dont know, there is something more appealing about an outdoor pool in the sunshine. Its more of an experience. This seems closed in, artificial, good for sports and competition but not great for kids who want to just hang out. Ill be going to McCarren pool in Brooklyn once they finish the 50 million in renovations there.
Hooray for the new pool and rink... Meanwhile the NYS Pavilion and the Meadow Lake boathouse remain abandoned.
looks really nice, I have to say, but it would be cool if people could pay by the day, too, instead of just by the year. $75 is a good rate but there are plenty of people who'd only want to use the pool a few times a year, like myself.
you dont have to become a member to use it. there are times and programs you can go to for a fee even if you're not a member. altho $75 is steal (and it's free for kids!). the schedule is on the parks website--http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_divisions/capital/parks/images/Park%20pool/Pool%20Schedule%202%2029%2008.pdf.
I took a peek at it yesterday. It truly is a magnificent facility.
As much as we like to bash NYC and the parks dept, they did a great job with this one.
$75 is a steal for a pool like this.
Now how about the NYS pavilion?
thnx for the info. Will check out the site.
Adrian Benepe should take note; When parks does good things that are supported by the community, he garners praise, even here. the problem is in most other cases in Queens, they have been completely tone deaf.
Post a Comment