MAYOR GIULIANI DECLARES NYC'S 1997 SUMMER POOL SEASON OFFICIALLY OPEN
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern and hundreds of New York City children today ushered in the 1997 summer pool season by activating two art-deco torch fountains in Astoria Pool -- fountains which had not spouted water for decades. The fountains were refurbished under a capital improvement project at the historic public swimming center located at 23rd Drive and 19th Street in Astoria, Queens. Also on hand for today's ceremony was City Council Speaker Peter Vallone.
"There's no better place to kick off the 1997 summer pool season than right here at the historic Astoria Pool," the Mayor said. "This pool was opened in 1936 by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and then-Parks Commissioner Robert Moses during a summer that witnessed the opening of ten pools around the City."
Mayor Giuliani continued, "And today, with our vast pool system, City residents now have a great many ways to find relief from the hot summer sun. People of all ages can cool off in the refreshing water at 55 relaxing, enjoyable and safe pools in every borough.
"I am very pleased to join Henry Stern, Speaker Vallone and these wonderful youngsters as we open all the City outdoor pools for another season of safe and enjoyable swimming," the Mayor concluded.
Commissioner Stern said, "Thanks to Mayor Giuliani's persistent efforts and great enthusiasm, $1.5 million has been spent to make this pool a safer, more enjoyable place to spend summer days. Extraordinary measure are being taken -- night and day -- to make everyone feels secure in our pools. And we expect more New Yorkers to take advantage of what our pools have to offer this year than ever before."
The two pools at Astoria -- the site of both the 1936 and 1964 United States Olympic swimming and diving trials -- can accommodate 3,000 swimmers and hold a combined 2.4 million gallons of water. The complex features a snack bar and large locker rooms decorated in art-deco style.
The improvements at the Astoria Pool -- the largest pool in the Parks Department system -- were financed, in part, with $1.5 million in Mayoral funding over the past three years. A new children's spray shower was recently added as well as replacement of pool's chlorination system, pumps, pipelines, filters, electrical lines and concrete deck surface. Speaker Peter Vallone has also pledged $900,000 for projects at the Astoria Pool Complex in the coming year.
The City currently operates 33 full-sized swimming pools and 22 small outdoor pools which will be open daily from 11am to 7pm until Labor Day. The mini pools, which accommodate younger children, will remain open until the second week of August during the hours of 11:30am to 6:30pm.
Commissioner Stern cautioned that the best way to ensure water safety was through education. The City's Learn to Swim program will operate at the City's 33 full-size pools this summer. The program, which has been running for almost two decades, offers free swimming lessons to anyone between the ages of 3 and 14.
Registration for the Learn to Swim Program will take place between July 7th and 10th, depending on the pool location. For more information about the program New Yorkers should call (718) 699-4219.
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