Private Pool In Eisenhower Park

Doesn't Hold Water

The current county administration continues to destroy our public parks for questionable financial gains. The latest is to allow a private company to build a private pool behind the Aquatic Center in Eisenhower Park. The reason? Allegedly, Deputy County Executive Rob Walker has stated "The land is just lying there and not making any money". This administration doesn't know that  It's parkland and not supposed to be "making money".  Its only function is to provide low or no cost recreations to Nassau  taxpayers and citizens

Instead this "new pool" will be in competition with the "county pool complex" while depending on that Center to provide, lockers, rest rooms, showers, etc. etc. Something like a remora attached to a shark.

How did this come about? Well Dave Ferris, former Parks Department director of the Aquatic Center was cashiered in 2003 for questionable activities there.  Under his management the Aquatic Center had  deteriorated to the point where it needed $25 million dollars in repairs and upgrades. In 2011 Mr. Ferris proposed to build a private auxiliary pool next to the Aquatic Center to  continue his competitive swimming classes.
 

He asked PARCnassau to meet him to explain what he was asking. We did and advised Mr. Ferris, we could not support his proposal. His claim that the aquatic center was too crowded and its pool overbooked were found to be wild exaggerations.  The Aquatic Center is 80,000 square feet with a 223 foot pool for competition, training and lessons, plus  diving pool and a full health spa. That isn't cramped!!

PARCnassau supports the Democratic minority in the county legislature's request for the Nassau Interim Finance Authority  to review this proposal with a view to forbidding it. While they are at it, perhaps they could look at the private tennis courts being built in Eisenhower and Christopher Morley Parks and stop these other  "thefts" of public lands.

PARCnassau further asks State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman to prosecute Nassau County for violations of NYS Case Law on the Alienation Of Municipal Parkland!  It is time to stand up, taxpayers, and save our county parks. No transient politicians should be permitted to privatize them and deprive the residents who paid to acquire, develop and maintain these facilities for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.

Bruce Piel, Chairman