By Phil Corso
Four city pools, including one at Fort Totten in Bayside, might be closed this year unless the City Council can find the funds to keep them afloat, the Parks Department said.
Parks Commissioner Veronica White testified in a Council hearing May 30 that an additional $1.5 million was needed to keep all of the city pools open this year. If the money is not restored to the budget, the department would be forced to close the Fort Totten pool in northeast Queens, Wagner Pool in Manhattan, Howard Pool in Brooklyn and Faber Pool in Staten Island.
Pool season will also be shortened by two weeks for all city facilities, Parks said, if the money is not there.
“Our decision was based on several factors, including attendance figures, proximity to other pools, access to public transit and the location of the pools relative to residential communities,” a Parks spokesman said.
Pool season begins Thursday, June 27, and typically runs through Labor Day, Parks said.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
