County delays Aquatic Center revamp

In response to opposition from local swimmers, renovation of the Nassau County Aquatic Center at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow has been pushed back until the spring of 2012.

Construction work was originally planned to begin next month, on July 5, but County Executive Ed Mangano decided to postpone the renovation in order to accommodate the next high school swimming season.

“After listening to our swimmers and high school coaches, and hearing about the impact the closure of the Aquatic Center would have on their activities, I directed the Parks Department to select a time period for renovation that will be less disruptive,” said Mangano, a Republican from Bethpage.

Since its opening in 1998, the Aquatic Center has experienced many problems resulting from its original construction. On April 8, 2009, a 40-pound light fixture fell from the ceiling into the pool. No one was hurt, but the incident demonstrated the building’s faulty construction.

Once the project is complete, overhaul of the Aquatic Center will make the 80,000-square-foot facility a safer venue by replacing the roof, installing new air-conditioning and ventilation systems, and putting a new filter in the pool.

According to Mangano, the decision to postpone renovations was “taken only after consulting with our engineers to ensure there are no safety issues in delaying the work.”

Nevertheless, come next spring, swimmers will have to use two open, heated pools at Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn-North Hills and Cantiague Park in Hicksville.

County Legislator David Denenberg, a Democrat from Merrick, has said he opposed starting construction work this summer because the timing of the plan didn’t make sense for the community. Rather than ruin an entire season, Denenberg wanted the renovations to begin in April of 2012.

Those who shared Denenberg’s sentiments have been reaching out to Mangano and expressing their disapproval of the renovation plan, specifically the time frame.

“A hallmark of my administration involves responding to grass-roots concerns,” Mangano said. “It gives me great pleasure to know that our high school athletes will be able to continue competing in that spectacular facility, and that our adult patrons will be able to continue enjoying their swim times and fitness classes.”

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