Queens Tribune NEWS
By Jason Banrey
Astoria may soon become one of the city’s premier destinations for performing arts.
in an effort to bring the borough a one of a kind venue to attract performers from around the city, Councilman Peter Vallone (D-Astoria) and Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski this week announced plans to convert Astoria Park’s diving pool into an amphitheater.
“This long-unused space will be transformed to bring music, theater and more to residents of Astoria and the borough of Queens,” Vallone said while standing in front of the long neglected diving area.
just off the East River, nestled between both the RFK-Triborough and Hells Gate Bridges, the Astoria Park swimming pool has not only drawn visitors by the tens of thousands each summer to its crystal clear waters but was the aquatic stage for diving trials for the U.S. Olympic teams in 1936 and 1964.
although the 330-foot pool has been a popular fixture within the historically land marked park for city swimmers, the diving pool has become an eyesore for Astoria residents who have long desired to convert the dilapidated space which had been out of commission for nearly three decades.
Since 2006, Community Board 1’s committee for parks and recreation has requested funding to have the diving pool converted into a performing arts space, listing the project within their annual capital budget priorities. Vallone recently allocated $1 million for the renovation project.
according to Vallone, the funding will be used fill the diving pool with concrete, create seating areas, install flooring, a new perimeter walkway and a tent canopy to provide shade.
although the small diving boards will be removed, Vallone assured the pool’s signature three-level diving board will be retained, refurbished and used for lighting purposes once the theater is complete.
Richard Khuzami, chair of the parks and recreation committee for CB1, has pushed for the transformation of the underutilized area and sees the addition of a performing arts space as a win-win situation for the borough.
“Having this facility here will encourage our young people to get involved in the arts,” said Khuzami, who wants the space to be accessible to all forms of performance art.
the Parks Dept. is developing conceptual designs and hopes to break ground in 2012 in order to have the theater open by the time pool season begins in 2013.
Reach Reporter Jason Banrey at jbanrey@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.
