New $17 Million Pool, Fitness Center Coming To College Ahead of Schedule

Students and community members dying for a swim won't have long to wait to make a splash -- plans for a new Olympic-sized indoor pool are moving full-steam ahead of schedule for the eastern campus of Suffolk County Community College.

Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman was able to speed up the budget process, allocating funds for next year toward the construction of a  long-awaited health and sports facility, including the pool, at the college.

In the original capital budget proposed by Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, construction funds were delayed until 2015 at the earliest. 

But, Schneiderman, chair of the bipartisan capital budget working group, pushed up construction funding to 2014, and the full Legislature approved that plan last week. 

Work is now slated to start up next year, with the pool expected to be completed by 2015.

That's good news for SCCC students who have to travel distances to meet their phys ed requirements -- and for local swim team members who don't have a pool locally to practice in.

The construction of the pool, gymnasium and health and fitness center will cost a total of $17 million, with half of that cost picked up by New York State.  The facility will encompass a total of 48,817 square feet, including two classrooms/multi-purpose rooms, office space, a gymnasium, locker rooms, the pool, and strength training and aerobic rooms.

“This will be the first public indoor swimming pool in the Town of Southampton and the need for a pool has been well documented for years,” Schneiderman said. “This pool will not only be for college students, it will be open to the public and will provide a safe place for our children to learn how to swim before they jump in the ocean. It will be available year-round to residents.”

Parents without pools know all too well the long trek they've had to indoor to bring aspiring young swimmers to public pools located miles from the East End. Currently, there are no facilities for physical education courses or athletic programs at the eastern campus. To have access to athletic facilities, students had to travel to SCCC campuses in Selden or Brentwood. With many students dependent on public transportation, the trip was often difficult or impossible.

“This facility will make our campus a complete campus like the two in western Suffolk,” Schneiderman said, adding that over 3000 students attend the eastern campus.

The facility is expected to generate revenue for the college on weekends and evenings when it's used by outside groups for events. The pool will likely be used by residents of Hamptons Bays, East Quogue, Westhampton Beach, Riverhead, Eastport, Manorville and other neighboring communities, Schneiderman said -- with possible school district swim teams utilizing the pool. 

"The health and wellness building is vital to completing a true academic center for eastern Suffolk residents. The facility will also be made available to community residents for recreational use-including the pool, which will be accessible to county residents for recreation and swimming lessons, when not being used by students.  The pool will also be available to train East End fire and dive rescue teams.  In addition, the building will contain convention space. This kind of space does not currently exist on the East End or the twin forks area. Events scheduled for this venue will serve to bolster the economic vitality of the region by attracting visitors to the area. The facility will help with the continued revitalization of Riverhead and the East End," said Dr. Shaun L. McKay, President of Suffolk County Community College.