Tree outside Victoria Pool hit by lightening on July 29, 2006

Hail to the Navy, volunteers rehab benches in Park

Navy volunteers renovate park benches
Personnel from Kesselring site in Milton repair Depression-era seats for Spa park lawn

By KENNETH C. CROWE II, Staff writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Thursday, July 27, 2006
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- U.S Navy volunteers resurrected some Saratoga Spa State Park history, reaching into the park's boneyard to pluck out some forgotten infrastructure.
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The concrete benches that the Works Progress Administration built during the Great Depression are back on the park's great lawn.
"All we're trying to do is show the public the community participation of the Navy," said Lt. Cmdr. Tom Prusinowski.
Prusinowski led a team of about 20 sailors from the nuclear propulsion training unit at the Kenneth A. Kesselring Site in West Milton to the park last week. About 1,200 naval personnel are stationed at the site. They live throughout Saratoga County.
"The old concrete ends are coming back from the boneyard," Prusinowski said.
The sailors took the concrete bench ends from the boneyard, as the park's maintenance yard is nicknamed.
First Class Machinist Mate Dan Matherly took charge of getting the wood for the benches and fitting them together with the concrete end pieces. The benches weigh about 225 pounds each.
Matherly drove to Schroon Lake to get the lumber. It's all about getting the right pieces, he said.
"We're doing a bench every 20 minutes. We're hitting full stride," Matherly said.
The team replaced 20 benches. They were placed on the great lawn around the park's reflecting pool and the nearby open area.
"It's a wonderful piece of community service. We're very appreciative of it," said Warren Holliday, the Saratoga-Capital District Region director for the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
"They use the park, they saw the need. They responded to it through a good volunteer effort," Holliday said.
Prusinowski noticed the park's need for new benches while working out at the park as a member of the Saratoga Stryders running club. The club donated money for supplies, the Navy donated the skills and staff and the park provided the bench parts to pull the project together.
"I'm in the park every day," Prusinowski said. As a result, the lieutenant commander knows that many people in the county are unaware that the Navy has a base in the area where sailors are trained to run nuclear ships and submarines.
"The Navy cares about Saratoga," Prusinowski said. "We're here and we want to give back to the community."
Kenneth C. Crowe II can be reached at 581-8438 or by e-mail at kcrowe@timesunion.com.

All Times Union materials copyright 1996-2006, Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation, Albany, N.Y.
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All Times Union materials copyright 1996-2006, Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation, Albany, N.Y.
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Sebastian delights in the joys of the Victoria Pool, July 21, 2006

World Famous New York City Ballet, July 17, 2006

New York City Ballet dancers are flocking to the Victoria Pool.

Scores of people await opening from 8 A.M.

Scores of sun seekers awaiting 10 A.M. opening of Victoria Pool on a perfect Sunday, July 16, 2006. The line stretched from the parking lot to the front door and went on all day.

Sunday, July 16, 2006 at Victoria Pool

Over 700 men, women and children enjoyed a perfect Sunday at the beautiful Victoria Pool with its spotless clear blue water. The temperature was in the mid-nineties and hardly a cloud in the sky. All the chairs and lounge were occupied by 10:15 A.M. and capacity was reached at 11:45A. M.

Stanton's annual Bastille Day Birthday Bash at Victoria Pool 2006

Save The Victoria Pool Society celebrates dear Stanton's birthday on July 14, 2006. Barbara Proctor, Louise Goldstein, Bobby Rapp, Andrew Jennings, Stanton Williamson, Paul Kaczmarek, Anita Turner and Carole Leader.

July 10, 2006, Pool Restaurant & locker room report

Catherine's restaurant at the Victoria Pool is improved this year with a more extensive and tastier menu than the last few years. The outside bar is back and a great place to meet and greet your friends. The prices are reasonable and the service can be slow on busy days so go for lunch early and often. The locker rooms and the entire pool area is MUCH cleaner than the last fews years. Lockers, bike racks, and a hair dryer outlet and more mirrors and counters have been added to the ladies locker room we are happy to report. Hooks have finally been installed outside each shower and we are anxiously awaiting soap dishes in the showers. The flowers get more magnificent every day and we are once again the Most Beautiful Pool in America.

The BLUE is BACK! July 7, 2006

Save The Victoria Pool Society is very grateful to the entire dedicated staff of Saratoga Spa State Park for bringing the blue back to our beloved pool.

Bulletin: The crystal clear blue Victoria Pool is BACK!!!

The amazingly dedicated and hard-working Staff of Saratoga Spa State Park and the Victoria Pool have restored the pool back to its original glory. Special and unending thanks go to our miracle worker, Mark, the wonderful John, Phil, the beautiful Stephanie, Dave and Al who solved the problems that persisted since the new filter system was installed last year. As always, we are grateful to our fearless leader, Regional Director, Warren Holliday. Tip your hat to the staff at the Pool while you are splashing in its beautiful blue waters.

Victoria Pool flowers July 5, 2006

Danny's flower power is beyond compare.