Double D Pool Rally This Saturday

The Friends of Douglass Greene Park are holding a rally this Saturday, June 29 at 10:30am for the Douglass and DeGraw pool, aka the Double D pool, located at 3rd Avenue and Nevins between Douglass and DeGraw (of course), with a rain date for the following day. It’s the opening weekend for this and all city pools, and neighbors are invited to enjoy the water and make your voices heard regarding the potential closure of the Double D.

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to build an underground sewage storage tank during its massive Gowanus Canal clean-up, and as DNAInfo noted in April, that tank could end up where the pool is. Following the public comment period about the project, the Times noted:

Construction of the sewage storage tank would close the pool, and possibly an adjoining playground, basketball court and skate park, for years; officials have not said whether they would come up with a temporary alternative.

But neighbors are hoping the EPA and the city don’t leave us in the lurch. Brownstoner notes that Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group member Sabine Aronowsky said: “Any planned closures to the park and pool must be mitigated by replacement facilities — and these in turn must be added to the clean-up funding.”

Elected officials and community leaders will be on hand to speak starting at 10:30am, and the pool opens at 11am.

Photo by CaptainKidder