Oakdale's Byron Lake Park pool reopens after nearly 2 years of renovations
Alison Aquino, 33, of Sayville, participates in a swimming session with her 18-month-old son, Nicholas, at Byron Lake Park pool in Oakdale on Wednesday. Credit: Barry Sloan
Byron Lake Park pool, an Oakdale facility built in the 1960s that had worn down over the years, has reopened for the summer after a complete overhaul, including an accessible driveway and an Olympic-size pool.
The project includes a new kiddie pool and spray pad, double flume slide, shower and bathroom facilities, a restaurant and a concession stand.
A drop-off area for patrons and a driveway up to the pool entrance to improve accessibility also were added, according to town communications with residents. The pool, which was closed for a summer after the project began in September 2022, reopened June 29.
The remodel of the park and pool, built in 1967, was prompted because the former facility had “exceeded its life cycle,” according to an emailed response from the town. The renovations were funded through the town's capital program.
The estimated cost of the project, including the cleaning of the lake, is $20 million. The pool can accommodate about 950 people, according to the town.
The town, which owns the pool, also is upgrading infrastructure surrounding Byron Lake, including replacing a bulkhead and reconstructing culverts for walkways along a stream connected to the lake — all improvements the town has said will improve lake water quality.
The third phase of the rehabilitation project began in late spring with the town using mulch reducing pellets to improve water clarity in the lake.
“Although we are in the early stages of this treatment program, we are seeing some incremental improvements” to water quality, the town said.
Supervisor Angie Carpenter touted the pool’s reopening this summer at her state-of-town speech in March, describing “55 years of patient waiting” for the upgrades.
She added, in a recent statement to Newsday, that the facility is about "bringing our community together."
Byron Lake opened in the late 1960s to the immense joy of local families, who “jam-packed” the park, one former supervisor recalled as Newsday previously reported, but attendance fell off in the 1990s.
Former Islip Supervisor Pete McGowan told Newsday in 1996 that attendance would have to nearly double to make town pools break even.
The Town of Islip could not provide attendance numbers for the facility, but Oakdale civic leader David Chan said he can see the pool is packed when he passes the park on runs and bike rides.
“There had to be a run on Town of Islip rec passes and pool memberships for the season, because everyone kept reaching out to the civic for the links,” he said. “The week before the grand opening, it was the major buzz in Oakdale.”
Even on a cloudy Wednesday morning, the pool was filled with families enjoying the water.
Ashley Portillo, 8, of Brentwood, said the slide has been her favorite part of the pool. She rode the flume more than once with her father, Elmer, Wednesday morning.
"It's a lot nicer," he said of the facility, which the family had visited several times before the remodel, adding they'll likely come back a few times this summer.
Diane Owenberg, 68, visiting her daughter and grandchildren from Florida, said the family had been waiting for the pool to reopen after it was closed last summer.
"It's beautiful," she said, although visiting costs "a lot of money for non-residents."
Alison Aquino, 33, of Sayville, participating in a swimming session with her 18-month-old son, Nicholas, said she hasn't been to the pool since she was a child.
The remodel looks "great," she said as she held her son in the kiddie pool, and the swimming session has helped her son be more comfortable in the water.
Kerin Crowley, water safety instructor supervisor for Islip, was observing swimming classes at Byron on Wednesday, including the session that Aquino participated in for parents with children between 6 months and 3 years old.
"When people come in, there's like an 'aha' moment," Crowley said. "It was worth the wait. It's beautiful now."
The pool will be open through Sept. 2 and is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Byron Lake Park pool, an Oakdale facility built in the 1960s that had worn down over the years, has reopened for the summer after a complete overhaul, including an accessible driveway and an Olympic-size pool.
The project includes a new kiddie pool and spray pad, double flume slide, shower and bathroom facilities, a restaurant and a concession stand.
A drop-off area for patrons and a driveway up to the pool entrance to improve accessibility also were added, according to town communications with residents. The pool, which was closed for a summer after the project began in September 2022, reopened June 29.
An Olympic-size pool is among the new features at the renovated Byron Lake Park Pool in Oakdale. Credit: Barry Sloan
The remodel of the park and pool, built in 1967, was prompted because the former facility had “exceeded its life cycle,” according to an emailed response from the town. The renovations were funded through the town's capital program.
The estimated cost of the project, including the cleaning of the lake, is $20 million. The pool can accommodate about 950 people, according to the town.
The town, which owns the pool, also is upgrading infrastructure surrounding Byron Lake, including replacing a bulkhead and reconstructing culverts for walkways along a stream connected to the lake — all improvements the town has said will improve lake water quality.
The third phase of the rehabilitation project began in late spring with the town using mulch reducing pellets to improve water clarity in the lake.
“Although we are in the early stages of this treatment program, we are seeing some incremental improvements” to water quality, the town said.
Supervisor Angie Carpenter touted the pool’s reopening this summer at her state-of-town speech in March, describing “55 years of patient waiting” for the upgrades.
She added, in a recent statement to Newsday, that the facility is about "bringing our community together."
Byron Lake opened in the late 1960s to the immense joy of local families, who “jam-packed” the park, one former supervisor recalled as Newsday previously reported, but attendance fell off in the 1990s.
Former Islip Supervisor Pete McGowan told Newsday in 1996 that attendance would have to nearly double to make town pools break even.
The Town of Islip could not provide attendance numbers for the facility, but Oakdale civic leader David Chan said he can see the pool is packed when he passes the park on runs and bike rides.
“There had to be a run on Town of Islip rec passes and pool memberships for the season, because everyone kept reaching out to the civic for the links,” he said. “The week before the grand opening, it was the major buzz in Oakdale.”
Even on a cloudy Wednesday morning, the pool was filled with families enjoying the water.
Ashley Portillo, 8, of Brentwood, rides a slide at the Byron Lake Park pool on Wednesday. Credit: Barry Sloan
Ashley Portillo, 8, of Brentwood, said the slide has been her favorite part of the pool. She rode the flume more than once with her father, Elmer, Wednesday morning.
"It's a lot nicer," he said of the facility, which the family had visited several times before the remodel, adding they'll likely come back a few times this summer.
Diane Owenberg, 68, visiting her daughter and grandchildren from Florida, said the family had been waiting for the pool to reopen after it was closed last summer.
"It's beautiful," she said, although visiting costs "a lot of money for non-residents."
Alison Aquino, 33, of Sayville, participating in a swimming session with her 18-month-old son, Nicholas, said she hasn't been to the pool since she was a child.
The remodel looks "great," she said as she held her son in the kiddie pool, and the swimming session has helped her son be more comfortable in the water.
Kerin Crowley, water safety instructor supervisor for Islip, was observing swimming classes at Byron on Wednesday, including the session that Aquino participated in for parents with children between 6 months and 3 years old.
"When people come in, there's like an 'aha' moment," Crowley said. "It was worth the wait. It's beautiful now."
The pool will be open through Sept. 2 and is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Pool membership fees
- For Islip Town residents, a family pool membership for the summer costs $225 and an individual membership costs $130. There are discounted rates for residents who are disabled or who are 60 and over.
- For non-residents, a family summer membership costs $350 and individual memberships cost $200.
- People may also access the pool on a daily basis at $15 per resident and $30 per non-resident. Residents with a Town of Islip recreation card can get in for $10 per day.
Brianne Ledda covers the Town of Islip for Newsday. She previously covered Southold and Greenport for The Suffolk Times and is a graduate of Stony Brook University.
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