לויטען דעלי נויס וועט דער סווימינג פאל ווערן געבויט דעם נעקסטען יאר אין פערטיג אין 3 יאר
New York Daily News -
http://www.nydailynews.com
Pool, skate rink & track on way
BY MELISSA GRACE and DONALD BERTRAND
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Wednesday, August 11th, 2004
Even though though Astoria Pool has been deep-sixed as the the site for the proposed 2012 Summer Olympics swimming venue, there's good news for Queens.
The borough is slated to get two consolation prizes: a $40 million pool and skating rink in Flushing, and an Olympic-sized track practice facility in Astoria Park.
"We are disappointed, but we can live with this," said Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria).
The Astoria Pool was nosed out as an Olympic site by the proposed 25-acre Williamsburg Waterfront Park in Brooklyn.
Officials made the switch to allow for swimming and diving to be held in separate arenas within the same complex, a new requirement by FINA, the international governing body for aquatics.
Mayor Bloomberg announced the changes in the city's Olympic proposal as well as plans to finalize the pool and skating rink in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall noted that the other Queens venues - which will showcase archery, water polo, rowing and canoeing - still represent a nearly $2 billion investment.
"Securing the 2012 Games will also push a number of capital projects in Queens forward," Marshall said.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was happy to accept a bigger share of the Olympic pie.
"How sweet it is that Williamsburg is slated to receive a premier Olympic aquatic center that will enhance the beauty of the waterfront and benefit Brooklyn families for years to come," Markowitz said.
Brooklynite Tommy Jaszczak, 45, also is revved up about the new facility.
"Yeah, go for it!" said Jaszczak, who was born and raised in Williamsburg. "It'll be a place for the kids to go swimming. It will keep them out of trouble."
The community never seemed to back the Olympic plans for Astoria Pool, originally submitted by NYC2012, Vallone said. Those plans called for demolishing the bathhouse, moving the pool site and perhaps closing Shore Blvd., Vallone said.
Nevertheless, the councilman added, the borough should be excited about getting a new pool and track facility.
At a press conference at Queens Museum in the park, Mayor Bloomberg said the new pool facility will include approximately 1,500 poolside seats, and also a 400-seat skating rink.
The 50-meter, Olympic-size pool will be the first of its size built in the city in more than 30 years and is designed so that it can temporarily accommodate 5,000 spectators if the city gets the bid, the mayor said.
Construction of the pool is slated to begin early next year and should be completed by 2007.
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