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A Few Clouds New look pool complex opens in Valley Stream
The village unveiled about $1 million worth of renovations to the Hendrickson Park pool complex on Saturday, when the Valley Stream facility opened for its 52nd summer season.
With overcast skies, turnout was light — lifeguards outnumbered swimmers in the early part of the day. But there is plenty of summer ahead as the pool is open through Labor Day.
Before the first swimmers hit the water, village officials, pool employees and community members gathered outside of the main entrance for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Work took place throughout the spring and right up to opening day as the parking lot was paved and striped just last week.
Mayor Ed Fare noted the pool complex, which opened in 1961, has received some substantial upgrades in the past. The children’s interactive area was added in 1998 and the Olympic pool was completely redone in 2005. But the pool service building had been virtually untouched.
That all changed this year as the building underwent about $400,000 worth of renovations. A new roof was installed, which Fare said was desperately needed because it was leaking in numerous spots. The white cinder block wall facing the parking lot was covered with a beige stucco faade. Fare said the old walls made the building look more like a prison than a pool.
The old metal awning above the main entrance was replaced with an arched blue canvas awning. Additionally, a new blue awning was added above the children’s side entrance. The front of the building was landscaped with new grass, flowers, plants and bricks. Inside, an old storage room was turned into a break room for pool employees.
The repaved parking lot cost about $620,000 for construction and engineering fees, and was partially funded through federal block grant money.
“There is more to come,” Fare said, highlighting more planned improvements. Soon, the village will add LED lights to front of the pool building to light it up at night. Fare said the colors can change so, for example, it could be lit up red, white and blue for the Fourth of July. New lights will also be installed in the parking lot.
