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Apr 20, 2020

Astoria Pool Will Not Open This Summer

Mayor de Blasio announced at the end of last week that all NYC Public Pools will remain closed this summer. Sadly that means our own local Astoria Pool! Because of (…)

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Image source: sach1tb on Flickr (cc)

Mayor de Blasio announced at the end of last week that all NYC Public Pools will remain closed this summer. Sadly that means our own local Astoria Pool!

Because of the economic repercussions of coronavirus closings, the Mayor released a new city budget, and it includes over $2 billion in cuts. He said according to projections, the city will lose over $7.4 billion in tax revenue over this fiscal year and the next.

Besides just the fears of overcrowding at the pools, potentially exposing more people to the virus, closing the city’s 50 public pools will save up to $12 million.

Many have asked about the lack of work and summer activities for city children this will cause.

Our district’s (and Astoria Pool’s) City Council Member, Costa Constantinides, said on Twitter: “We have two months until the school year ends. Part of that time must be spent creating a plan that ensures our youth have constructive programming that replaces the loss of our pools and keeps them healthy.”

Astoria Pool is an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and by far the largest one in New York City. It opened on July 4, 1936, and even held the Olympic Trials for the U.S. Swim and Diving Teams that very same year!

Though of course it’s a disappointment, hopefully it will only be one year closed in the pool’s very long and rich history.

3 Comments

ILEANA VEGA

I have been going to ASTORIA POOL since I was 10 years old. Every season every day. Now 61 I’m in tears. It’s not right

Reply
Vasilios J. Mousadakos

I am disappointed that the Astoria Pool will be closed this year, but I am very understanding and supportive due to the coronavirus pandemic that has affected our cities and neighborhoods for the past couple of months. I have been an Astoria resident for 11 years and I always enjoyed and looked forward to going to the Astoria Pool for a 2-3 hour swim every summer. It is certainly the hot spot to go to for warm weather days in July, August and September. I am very hopeful that the pool will be reopen next year in time for its’ 85th anniversary.

Reply
Mike

They should comp parents with kids or give some kind of reimbursement to Astoria sports complex for using the pool there, once everything re-opens. This way you give a local business, more business, and you create more foot traffic for stores nearby.

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