Hot And Cold | 1| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

Facility Made For Skaters, Swimmers

The architect’s rendering of the Flushing Meadows natatorium.

By Michael Rehak

Budget cuts and dashed plans for the 2012 Olympics have kept Queens’ ice skaters and swimmers away from Flushing Meadows Corona Park recently, but ground was broken for the third time this past month on a natatorium at the former World’s Fair site.

In June 2001, the city had intended to begin construction on a state-of-the-art athletic facility on a scale that compared to Robert Moses’ efforts more than 40 years earlier when he brought the 1964 New York World’s Fair to Queens. In a release, the city’s Parks Department even said at the time, “New Yorkers can look forward to using the new facility in 2002.”

However, it never happened and the $32.9 million project, which was funded by $18.9 million from the Mayor’s budget, $11.4 million from the Borough President’s coffers and an $11.5 million boost from the City Council was put on hold, pending the outcome of the city’s attempt to win the bid for the 2012 Olympics.

Initial plans included a multi-story building approximately 69,000 square feet in size. Renderings showed an Olympic size public swimming pool, with such amenities as diving, wading and a section for laps. The pool was also planned to have moveable floors to allow depth differences, with the intent of suiting it for all ages and swim types.

Like the 1939 World’s Fair Ice Rink, which is moving out of the building that houses the Queens Museum, the natatorium was also planned to have an NHL regulated ice rink. A year-round skating and swimming facility has been non existent in Flushing Meadows since the 30s, but it was planned to offer competitive leagues, as well as leisurely skating.

Now, more than four years after the last venture failed, new builders are at the helm, Handel Architects and Hom and Goldman Architects, and the Flushing Meadows natatorium is set to be finalized by fall 2007.

This time, some $55 million has been allocated for the project. Working with the city’s Economic Development Corporation, Bovis Lend Lease of New York is overseeing the construction of some 110,000 square feet of space.

The complex is expected to include much of what was attempted years earlier, complete with a pool, an ice rink and nearly 900 total seats for spectators. A lobby will connect the two watery amenities and an exterior facade will be built with pre-cast concrete and glass tiles.

The site will also be equipped with a cable-stayed mast supporting the roof. The project is expected to mirror the former World’s Fair site.