County Executive Robert P. Astorino joined hundreds of Westchester residents at a pool party that celebrated the official re-opening of the bathhouse at "The Brook at Tibbetts," at Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers. The party was also part of a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.
The party got underway immediately after the formal welcome and featured deejay music, games and activities for children, trivia contests, giveaways and more. Visitors swam and played in-water games, float down the lazy river or dance on the deck to music that was popular in 1962 when the parks department was new.
The reopening of the bathhouse represents the culmination of a multi-phase improvement project at Tibbetts. The exterior of the 1928 Georgian Colonial Revival-style building has been refurbished with doors and windows and a new composite roof that mimics the building's original slate roof. Inside are updated changing rooms with new lockers, showers and restrooms, additional ticket booths that streamline admission, and more-direct access to locker rooms and the pool.
For added patron safety, new lifeguard and first-aid rooms have been installed off the pool deck and enhanced public address and alarm systems are in place. To help keep energy costs down, the first solar-powered water heaters in the county park system have been installed, providing hot water to all restrooms, showers and sinks in the building. Two all-new multipurpose rooms are being developed for public use.
In a separate phase of the project the former 81-year-old pool was replaced with a modern aquatic complex, complete with water slides, a lazy river, in-pool basketball and volleyball, lap lanes and a spray playground. The park's picnic areas and restrooms were improved under the project as well.
Go to westchestergov.com/parks or call (914) 864-PARK.