Manorhaven Pool Slated for Complete Overhaul

Crowds arrived in droves to Manorhaven Beach Park during the recent heatwave. Residents and their guests flocked to the 50-year-old Olympic-sized pool, which will undergo under a major renovation after Labor Day, when the summer season comes to an end. The upgrades will modernize the pool and its surroundings.

North Hempstead's Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman that the pool was originally slated for renovation approximately two to three years ago. Yet the economic downturn and budget constraints prompted the town to postpone the project until 2010.

"The entire pool will be ripped out and redone, and a new design and new foundation will be implemented," Kaiman said. "This is a $10 million-plus project and will be completed before the start of the 2011 summer season."

According to the pool's design renderings, the modernization will include a new slide plunge and waterfall, an expanded deck area, new park signage, a new walkway, a new upper terrace and an entirely brand new pool.

Currently, daily pool admission fee for an adult resident is $8, a guest is $12, and a yearly family resident membership fee is $250. Daily parking for a resident is $15 and for a non-resident car the fee is $20. It is undetermined at this time if the upgrades will prompt any fee increase. 

Kaiman added that the renderings of the new design for the pool were mailed to all town residents and bids are now going out for the most affordable engineering company to take on the job, which will be decided at the next Town of North Hempstead Town Board meeting, on July 13.

Many town residents are in favor of the renovation, but some have expressed reservations about spending so much money during these hard economic times.

Still, Port Washington resident Armond Saidai said he is looking forward to the upgrade and it has been long overdue.

"I have been going to the pool for 20 years and it is rundown, so it definitely needs an overhaul," Saidai said. "The pool will then attract many more residents and I believe that the money will be well spent."

However, Richard and Susan Levin, who live in Port Washington and say they've attended the pool for more than ten years, believe the renovation is wasteful spending.

"I am not for these pool upgrades, and I think the money can be used for other purposes, such as giving to charitable organizations," Richard Levin said. "I think the pool is fine just the way it is. What is wrong with it?"

Plenty, said Port Washington resident Teresa Agostino. "The pool is very jagged on the bottom of it and needs to be smoothed out," she said. "It's old, and I am glad that it is finally being redone."

Port Washington resident Rachel Bialer has taken aquatise (water exercise) classes for three years at the pool and says that the town should send out flyers to advertise these classes so that residents know about them. And she had other suggestions. 

"New locker rooms are needed, and people want healthy alternatives at the snack bar, instead of only hot dogs and French fries," Bialer said. "I am excited to see what the newly renovated pool will look like. It's about time."