Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is meant by a "Community Center"?
A. First and foremost, a "community" facility, designed to appeal to the physical, intellectual, social and creative interests of a broad range of Scarsdale residents, providing a place to swim and exercise year round at a moderate fee, as well as a home for the Village's educational and cultural activities.
The SCC is designed to bring residents together in a manner that no other place in Scarsdale currently does. The diversification of the program offerings should appeal to all members of the community -- making the SCC the "indoor town center" of Scarsdale.
Q. What facilities will comprise the SCC?
A. . Two indoor swimming pools (an 8 lane 60x75-ft. main pool with a 20 x 30-ft. diving "L" and a 20 x 40-ft. shallow warm water pool which can be easily accessed by seniors, the disabled and pre-school children)
. a Fitness Equipment Center, a 1,400 sq. ft. facility with weight and aerobic equipment, and
. Multi-Purpose Space, designed for a variety of activities and special programs.
Q. What will the aquatic program include?
A. In addition to family recreational swimming, lap swimming and water aerobic/therapeutic
activities, a complete program will be developed including:
. group instruction in swimming (particularly for pre-school and school-aged children),
. life saving and water safety,
. water aerobics for seniors,
. competitive swimming (including a home for Scarsdale's interscholastic swim teams),
Special senior swims, as well as swimming and play times for mothers and their pre-school
children, will be featured.
Q. What is considered "a moderate fee"?
A. "Founding Members" are entitled to a special subscription price, guaranteed not to increase for each of the first 3 years, of $625 for a family, and $400 for an individual. We anticipate providing a 25% senior discount for Senior Founding Members (age 65).
Q. What benefits come with membership?
A. Members receive
. access to all SCC facilities, including both indoor pools, and the Fitness Equipment Center,
. the opportunity to participate in all fee-based programs offered at the SCC at the lowest
program entry fee,
. priority over non-members with respect to program availability, and
. use of a tots' room with babysitting.
Q. Who can become a member?
A. The SCC will use the same criteria for membership in the Scarsdale outdoor pool.
You need not belong to the outdoor pool in order to join the SCC.
Q. Can outdoor pool members use the indoor pools?
A. Yes. During the summer, outdoor pool members will receive access to the two indoor SCC pools, effectively creating the fifth and sixth outdoor pools.
Q. How will outdoor pool members benefit from the SCC?
A. Summer access to the indoor pools will
. help to relieve outdoor pool overcrowding,
. provide swimming opportunities on rainy days,
. extend the hours for swimming beyond the hours of the outdoor pool,
. enhance programming opportunities, including water aerobics and warm water therapies for
adults and seniors, and
. provide additional facilities for children who participate in instruction.
Members of the outdoor pool who are also members of the SCC will be able to use the modern, clean, locker rooms of the SCC for indoor or outdoor pool use, and will be able to expand their "pool" activities to include the Fitness Equipment Center and other air conditioned facilities of the SCC.
Q. Why are subscriptions being sought now?
A. We must prove to the Village Board that the SCC can be built and operated at no expense to taxpayers. To do so, at least 1,200 Scarsdale families must demonstrate their support for the SCC by committing to three years of membership and paying the third year's fee in advance. (This amount will be kept in a special account at the Bank of New York and will be refunded without interest if the SCC is not completed, or if the subscriber moves away.)
Q. What is the advantage of signing up now, for three years, as a "Founding Member"?
A. "Founding Members" will 1) be guaranteed their special rate for the first three years, even if the membership rate is raised for that period, 2) receive priority over non-Founding Members with respect to program availability, 3) be eligible to win an award of a free annual membership, and 4 receive permanenet recognition on a wall of the SCC.
Q. Where will the pool be located?
A. On land owned by the Village, between the existing outdoor pool and the Boulder Brook Riding Academy.
Q. To whom are we entrusting this project?
A. The SCC will be constructed, operated and managed by the Village.
Q. How much will this project cost?
A. Construction is estimated at approximately $8,500,000. For the first three years, operating expenses are about $740,000 per year, with interest and amortization approximately $670,000 per year. Membership subscription income, together with income from swim instruction and other programs, is projected to cover these expenses, with no cost to Village taxpayers.
Q. You mean that the construction and operation of the SCC will not cause an increase in taxes?
A. Yes. The SCC's operating projections indicate it can be constructed and operated on a financially self-sufficient basis, with revenues meeting or exceeding both operating costs and debt service expenses on an annual basis. The Village's consultants, The Thomas Group, have concluded that the SCC's financial plan, providing for operation
and payment of construction expenses without the need for taxpayer assistance, is sound. Broad SCC support, evidenced by attaining our target number of Founding Members, will substantially reduce the risk of taxpayer subsidy should program projections not be attained.
Q. Will the Enterprise Fund of the existing outdoor pool be invaded to fund the SCC?
A. No. It is not contemplated either to merge the outdoor pool and the new SCC into one entity or to commingle the Village's Enterprise Fund that now handles all outdoor pool finances. A new fund will be established to receive all SCC generated revenues and to pay all SCC expenses, including debt service, with each entity operating under its own policies, as determined by the Village.
Q. Will the SCC include community space?
A. Yes. The Multi-Purpose Community Space, approximately 7,000 sq. ft. in size, is designed for flexible usage as space for classes, community group meetings, teen activities, parties and concerts. As part of this space, there will be a soundproofed Fitness Activity (Aerobic) Room with shock absorbing floor and mirrored walls to support aerobics, dance and other group programs.
Q. What will the SCC building look like?
A. The building has not been designed. However, the Village's consultants, The Thomas Group, have prepared two initial facility design schematics. Both of these schematics have the Multi-Purpose Space on the second level, lessening the footprint of the facility, and both orient the building so that the narrow end of the building is facing the pool parking lot, making it more "curb friendly."
The main topographical feature of the site, and an important factor diminishing the visual bulk of the facility, is the change in elevation from the outdoor pool complex up to the Riding Academy. The computer rendering prepared by the Village's consultants is presented as one of many possible designs.
Q. What about parking facilities?
A. Ample parking will be provided. The Village's consultants have reported that existing and planned parking will be sufficient to satisfy total parking demand for both the new SCC and existing outdoor pool. Peak periods of demand for the outdoor and indoor swimming pools should not take place simultaneously, and use of the community facilities at the SCC, although yearround, will be heaviest during non-summer periods and in the evenings when the outdoor pool will be used less or closed.
Q. Where can I get more information about the SCC?
A. You are welcome to read the complete Report of the Community Recreation Study Committee, as well as the Report Analysis by the Village's consultant, on our Reports Page. For other questions, please contact the SCC.
Q. This looks great and will be a valuable benefit to the community!! How can I support the SCC effort?
A. Become a Founding Member today! Mail your subscription application and check payable to
Scarsdale Community Center Inc. to it at P.O. Box 612, Scarsdale, NY 10583.
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