The John S. DaVanzo Community Pool held its 54th opening on June 13. Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss kicked off the ceremony, highlighting the pool’s shepherd in DaVanzo, who passed away in 2014 at age 92.
“This is John’s pool,” Strauss said. “He was instrumental in creating the pool back in the ’60s.”
The pool opened in June 1961 after a longstanding campaign by DaVanzo, then a Mineola Village Board trustee and other board members. The pool at the time cost $273,000. In 2007, the village board approved a sign change, using DaVanzo’s name as the hook.
For a timeline history of the Mineola Pool, click here.
“Every time I come here, I’m reminded of John DaVanzo and the role that he played in having this pool come to fruition and what he meant to the community,” Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira said. “I’m glad this will be a lasting legacy because generations will come to know of him through this.”
More than 40 staff members were on hand for the opening. Strauss focused on safety and dedication when pinpointing goals for the summer.
“To the staff, thanks for stepping up,” Strauss said. “I say it every year…the most important thing we have in our lives are our kids. We take our kids, our most prized possessions, and we give them to [the staff] to watch over. You’re in the office, in the chairs, on stands, ready.”
The pool will offer free Wi-Fi Internet access to pool frequenters, village officials announced recently. Regulations for device usage will be in effect when the service launches.
“There will be a password,” Village Clerk Joseph Scalero said at a recent board meeting. “It will be posted at the pool and change probably weekly. It’s a nice perk for our patrons and others that spend many hours at the pool over the summer.”
The pool hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through June 26, June 27-Aug. 21, Monday: 2 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m, Aug. 22-Sept. 7, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
