Built In Pools

Happy Birthday to a Simple Pleasure

Picture a Monday in August: A bad day on Wall Street. Spain in the headlines again. More hot, dry weather in this country. The mayor was complaining that New York was not getting the federal money it should.

It was a Monday 75 years ago, the day on which Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia opened the city pool in Red Hook, Brooklyn, the 11th Depression-era pool built by the parks department with money from the federal Works Progress Administration.

That opening was celebrated on Monday by Adrian Benepe, the parks commissioner, and other officials, including the Brooklyn borough president, Marty Markowitz. The crowd was smaller this time around; at most a few hundred were on hand. In 1936, the turnout was 40,000. But as stopwatches clicked and relay races began, some on the sidelines reflected on the economic ups and downs of then and now.

“It’s similar, dire, economic straits,” said James Martin, an artist from Red Hook who swims at the pool five days a week. “It seems like it’s out of our hands now — it’s all special interests and lobbyists now, and we’re doing well not to close down, not to cut. It’s almost like our expectations have become so much lower.”

Onorio Mercado, 54, a bus driver from the Bronx, said he was worried about the future, in part because the economy “might even get worse” before it got better, in part because the country seemed “more united” 75 years ago.

“When I retire,” he said, “all the benefits people had years ago, I might not have. With all the problems with Wall Street, 401(k)s are going down. The problems are so wide. It’s not just the city. But this country has been around a long time. We’ll crawl out of it.”

Hannah Borgeson of Manhattan sounded more upbeat. “I don’t think we’re in a great depression,” she said, “but I agree when they say it’s a great resource to have these pools. I feel like our government is putting less resources into programs than in the Depression.”

Mr. Benepe said he was still optimistic, in part because the city was in “the biggest period of investment in parks and infrastructure” since the Depression.

“But we’re investing city money,” he said. “They” — the officials who built the pools and other parks projects in the 1930s — “also had federal money.”

Mr. Benepe said the pools were models of engineering and design. “They made them safe, and they made them clean,” he said.

Pools are a Good Way To Cool Down This Coming Season | Exotic ...

Swimming pools aren’t just a great way of relaxing, they also improve your home’s value. Swimming pools are a great way to stay cool and have fun over the hot summer months. Relaxation and hydrotherapy are just some of the therapeutic benefits of swimming pools. One of the best benefits of swimming pools is that it increases family fun, creates great memories and gives you a reason to spend more time together.

Location and design are important to consider when adding a swimming pool to your property. These considerations are dependent upon one another. Your local contractor can advise you on your budget, location and design. The location that you choose for your pool is going to impact the type of pool shape, the size of pool and how much privacy your pool will afford. If the location you want to build your pool on is not level you will be paying costly fees in order to level it out. Trees and other landscaping around your pool should be taken into consideration because they can make your pool messy. How deep your pool should be will depend on whether you want to use it to relax or to play and dive. Location and design will depend on the size of your budget.

The price of a swimming pool will vary depending on the decisions you make about features, location, design and if you choose an in ground or above ground pool. Although they look better in ground pools cost more and require a larger amount of space. When you are planning your budget you also have to consider maintenance costs. Don’t spend more than you can afford, you need to set a realistic budget and stick with it. Some features that you can include in your design include lighting features such as having underwater lights, coloured underwater lights or unique painted designs on the floor of the pool. There are a number of water features that you can have built into your pool including a heater, waterfalls, islands, beaches, tables, diving platforms and handicapped access. Remember that some features will greatly increase your costs..

It is important to the weigh the pros and cons of an in ground or above ground pool. In ground pools are more popular because they are more functional and more aesthetically pleasing. The cost and space effective option is an above ground pool. Above ground pools can be custom built or bought in a kit. The best option is to have the pool surrounded by a deck to reinforce the pool and improve its look. Use metal frames or fiber glass to construct your above ground pool. No matter which type of pool you choose ensure the pool’s deck is well constructed and safe and don’t forget to consider fencing the pool.

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