Valley Stream pool turns 50

The Valley Stream pool has turned 50. The village’s aquatic complex at Hendrickson Park first opened in 1960 and is still a huge draw.

Despite cooler temperatures last Saturday, many village residents still came down for a swim as the pool opened for another summer season. Stacey Vecchione brought her daughter, Samantha, son, Daniel, and nephew, Patrick. “I’ve never come down for the first day,” she said, adding that her daughter was especially eager to come. After their swim, the children lounged and had some lunch from the pool’s concession stand.

Over the winter, repairs were made to the diving pool, the only original pool still left from when the complex opened five decades ago. The olympic pool was replaced a few years ago and the children’s interactive area was redone in 1998.

Pool operator Doug Clark said a lot of work is done to get the pool complex ready for the summer season. Beginning in February, concrete repairs are made. Everything, including the walls, doors, bathrooms and pools are repainted, and all the chairs and tables are cleaned.

“It’s a lot of work,” Clark said, “and I have a really good part-time and full-time staff.”

Clark said that once the pool opens for the season, it is staffed 24 hours a day, even a night when swimmers aren’t allowed in. That’s because the pool’s mechanical equipment needs to be monitored, he explained.