By Nicole Falco
Construction of a new $2.5 million, state-of-the-art, Olympic-size swimming pool is expected to be completed by the first week of May 2004 -- a month before the facility's season opening. The Village Board of Trustees approved a $2.5 million bond to cover the project's cost earlier this year.
"Everything's happening in a timely fashion and will open on time," said Doug Clark, pool maintenance supervisor.
As of last week, workmen began laying piping and making preparations to pour concrete for the new pool. Even as the electrician, general contractor and engineering consultants work toward the May completion date, Clark and his crew will continue to maintain the children's pool, the interactive pool and pool-complex facilities.
Last fall, the village bonded approximately $240,000 for the installation of a liquid chlorine storage tank and safety delivery system. The new tank replaced a dry chlorine system and will save the village about $24,000 annually.
While construction is just beginning at Hendrickson, it's nearing completion at Firemen's Field. Ground was broken on the new clubhouse before the end of 2002, and the project was supposed to be completed last March, but a hard winter and slight changes in plan slowed it down, according to Vincent Ang, village clerk. The new clubhouse, which replaced a much smaller facility, should be open by early November, Ang said.
The new clubhouse features a multipurpose room, office space for the village's public safety and recreation departments, men's and women's locker rooms, bathrooms and showers, and six storage rooms. The storage rooms are accessible from the outside and the majority will probably be made available to the various sports teams that use Firemen's Field.
The building is handicap-compliant. Changes in plan that were not made until after construction began include the addition of water fountains, a kitchenette and an underground sprinkler system for the entire facility, Ang said.
Behind the clubhouse, a new baseball field was built, complete with bleachers and dugouts. Also, the existing fields were reconfigured in order to dedicate one field to football.
The entire project cost approximately $940,000, Ang said. The original estimate was slightly less. Changes increased the price tag by $68,000, but Ang said the project ultimately remained within original projections. The village received a $500,000 state grant through Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assemblyman Bob Barra, and a $100,000 grant from Cablevision. The village bonded $360,000 to make up the difference.
"It looks beautiful," Ang said. "It really has come a long way."
