Yorktown Unveils Renovated Pool for its Swimmers

The Yorktown boys and girls swim teams now have a place to call home as officials held the grand reopening of the  pool on Tuesday.

Superintendent Ralph Napolitano, school board President Jackie Carbone, and members of the girls and boys teams cut the ribbon to open the pool, which was used soon after for a swim meet against Peekskill. 

"It's nice for them to have a home base," swim coach Caitlin Voege said. "We'd swim at and they're our cross rival. We'll get more spectators here."

And the swimmers agreed. Marly Becker, a junior at the high school, said she remembers using the pool months before it was closed for constructions three years ago. As she wrapped herself in a towel after her first swim at the pool on Tuesday, she said she was glad to be able to use it. 

"It's a relief I can finally be here for my last two years," she said. 

Grace Mante and Chelsea Difini said they liked what the pool looked like and couldn't wait to decorate it and show off their school spirit. 

new wall and ceiling tiles, a paint job, sound-proof panels, benches, diffusers, an infiltration system and an air dehumidifier, which removes the smell of chlorine from the pool area. Another addition to the pool is a new handicap lift. Previously, the handicap lift was constantly resting in the pool, which provided difficulties during competitive swim meets. 

All of the renovations are funded by a $37 million bond project, which was approved in 2006, with the first year of the construction beginning in 2007.

The middle school building was originally constructed with a swimming pool when it first opened in 1969. It had undergone renovations over the years, with the last one (prior to this year’s work) being done in the early 90s, according to the director of facilities, Dennis Verboys.

"It's a really beautiful facility," Carbone said of the pool. "It now gives [the athletes] an approproate place to swim."

In addition to the high school swim team, the pool will also be used by the Croton and Hen Hud swim teams. It has also been used by the town's recreational programs.

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