Officials jump in with the idea of bringing a YMCA to hamlet By Grant Parpan and Drew Crouthamel ROCKY POINT--Nearly two months after the Rocky Point School District passed on a proposed pool at the 33-acre Fairfield site, community members are still wondering what's next. That answer just may be, of all things, a pool. The Rocky Point Civic Association is keeping the hope of a pool alive, as it explores the possibility of a partnership with YMCA to fill the void left at the property. "We're trying to find something that is multi-generational for the community," civic president Diane Burke said. A YMCA could be just that. Ms. Burke and others visited YMCAs in East Hampton and Bay Shore, where amenities include not just a heated indoor pool but a walking track, gym, dance and aerobic studios, a craft room and day-care facilities. "Bay Shore was a complete shot in the arm to that community," Ms. Burke said. "The downtown area [in Bay Shore] is nearly completely revitalized, in part because of the 'Y.'?" Downtown revitalization also plays a part in Rocky Point's saga. With revitalization plans well under way, land-use committee chairman Rich Johannesen proposed the idea of installing additional sewage capacity at the Fairfield site, warning that downtown Rocky Point may soon outgrow its current sewage capacity. But Ms. Burke said such a plan is unlikely. "My feeling is the intent of the gift was multi-generational," she said. "That being the intent, I feel we need to focus on providing the community with something that takes the place of the pool." The idea of a pool was spawned from a charette held by Fairfield developers to gauge community opinion. The plan was for the pool to be built and then donated to the school district. Citing a lack of educational value and large costs -- a pool was said to cost between $500,000 and $900,000 annually to maintain -- the district rejected the gift, which sent community members back to the drawing board. The Fairfield gift was also to include the donation of lighted turf athletic fields for the district, a plan that ended when the district rejected the pool, Ms. Burke said. Whatever is eventually built in the development, which will include 235 residential units, must first meet with the approval of the civic. While a YMCA is the flavor of the month, it's hard to tell if it is more than that. "We have to make sure we can support any facility we decide on," Ms. Burke said. "It takes some planning."
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