Astoria Park diving pool

The city is in a pickle with the historic Astoria Park diving pool: Cost overruns to convert the landmark into a 500-seat theater has left no money for bathrooms — yes, bathrooms. [more]

From left: Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski and Astoria City Council Member Peter Vallone Jr., who support the plan, and the abandoned pool

Though elected officials, the Parks Department and community groups are backing the restoration of a landmarked abandoned dive pool in Astoria Park, there are fundraising problems, the Wall Street Journal reported. As previously reported, the conversion plan to transform the pool, which hosted the U.S. Olympic diving trials in 1936 and 1964, into an amphitheater seemed to be set in stone. The plan also included the integration of the 32-foot Art Moderne diving platform into the overall design. [more]

The Astoria Park Pool, the landmarked but run-down center that was a favorite of master city planner Robert Moses, is finally due for a multimillion-dollar refurbishment — its first since 1961. The pool, which opened in 1936 and was one of 11 new outdoor pools that Moses oversaw at the time, was the host of the final swimming, water polo and diving trials for the U.S. Olympic teams in 1936 and 1964. The Olympic-sized swimming and diving pools, which have views of the Hell Gate and Triborough bridges, haven’t been used since 1980. At a public meeting earlier this month, community members floated ideas for year-round uses of the space including an amphitheater, bowling alley, ice skating and hockey rinks, and a restoration of the original pools. Rogers Marvel Architects is overseeing the project, for which $2.5 million has already been raised by City Council member Peter Vallone Jr. and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. The city is putting $50,000 toward the master plan, which is slated to be finalized by the end of the year. [NYDN]

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The Astoria Park Pool, the landmarked but run-down center that was a favorite of master city planner Robert Moses, is finally due for a multimillion-dollar refurbishment — its first since 1961. The pool, which opened in 1936 and was one of 11 new outdoor pools that Moses oversaw at the time, was the host of the final swimming, water polo and diving trials for the U.S. Olympic teams in 1936 and 1964. The Olympic-sized swimming and diving pools, which have views of the Hell Gate and Triborough bridges, haven’t been used since 1980. At a public meeting earlier this month, community members floated ideas for year-round uses of the space including an amphitheater, bowling alley, ice skating and hockey rinks, and a restoration of the original pools. Rogers Marvel Architects is overseeing the project, for which $2.5 million has already been raised by City Council member Peter Vallone Jr. and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. The city is putting $50,000 toward the master plan, which is slated to be finalized by the end of the year. [NYDN]

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