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Leap Day only appears on the calendar once every four years and yet it typically comes and goes without much fanfare. This was not the case on Feb. 29, 2008 when elected officials, City representatives, students and senior citizens flocked to Flushing for the opening of the Aquatic Center at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

“How many leap years have we had since we started,” Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe said, referring to the drawn-out construction process. “We’re celebrating by leaping into the pool.”

Building the $66.3 million facility, which includes an Olympic-size swimming pool and a NHL-regulation ice rink that is scheduled to open this fall, took almost a decade to complete. At 110,000 square-feet, it is the largest recreation complex ever erected in a City park.

“One of the hallmarks of our five-borough economic development strategy is to invest in things that make New York City more livable, and this fantastic new aquatic center – the first indoor public pool built in this City in more than 40 years – is a terrific example of that,” said Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber.

The initial concept and funding came from former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman. With the foundation intact, the events of September 11 put construction on hold. Then, in 2003, the Economic Development Corporation came on board and the project was included in the City’s 2012 Olympic bid, which was eventually lost to London.

“Today, on a day that is once every four years, we celebrate a day that happens once in a lifetime,” Queens Borough President Helen Marshall said last Friday. “I am happy to have provided more than $10 million in funding for this facility. However, we could not have reached today’s opening without the support of Mayor Bloomberg who we hope will swim here one day.”

Instead of the mayor, it was the Commissioner, joined by “Swim to Safety” participants, Roy Wilkins Senior Dolphins and the Townsend Harris High School’s girls’ swim team, who tested out the water.

“Our pool [at Roy Wilkins Park] is closed right now,” 72-year-old Dolphin Donald Patterson said. “That one was built before World War Two. This is just beautiful.”

Annual membership costs $75 for adults under 55 and $10 for seniors. Children under 18 swim free. Location: Avery Avenue and 131st Street. Hours: Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Phone: (718) 271-7572.