Press Release
April 09, 2009
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Press Contact:Rachel Gordon212.866.2720
State Parks Announces Roberto Clemente Pool Closed for 2009
Park expected to reopen refurbished pool and new kiddie aquatic areas in 2010
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that the Roberto Clemente State Park pool will be closed for the 2009 season due to construction.
"Along with much-needed improvements for Roberto Clemente, there will be unavoidable impacts on park goers this summer," said Commissioner Carol Ash.
Ash noted that closing the pool will result in significant operational savings this year, allowing state parks in New York City to avoid any other significant cuts this season. Approximately 100 parks and historic sites across the state will experience some reduction in services this year in response to difficult economic realities.
Work has begun on the locker room phase of the aquatics renovation at Roberto Clemente State Park, which includes demolition of the locker rooms and reconstruction of new facilities, as well as new roofs and HVAC for the park building. The project also calls for refurbishing the pool and constructing new interactive spray and kiddie pool areas. The facility is expected to reopen for the 2010 season.
The pool project has been in the planning and design stages for several years. In 2004, New York City committed to providing $20 million for park enhancements at Roberto Clemente State Park. The investment is part of $200 million in capital mitigation funds for the Bronx Parks that the City Department of Environmental Protection is providing for the construction of a water filtration plant for the Croton Water Supply System in the Bronx.