Lynbrook will open its municipal pool to some residents of nearby Rockville Centre

Lynbrook has agreed to let up to 100 families from adjacent Rockville Centre use its village swimming pool, as the latter studies whether to build its own.

The idea of letting residents of Rockville Centre use the Lynbrook Village pool -- normally open only to residents and their guests -- was announced last Monday at the monthly Lynbrook board of trustees meeting.

Meanwhile, Rockville Centre officials say they will study whether to construct their own pool for village residents.

"A [Rockville Centre] task force has already been assembled to look into the costs . . . [of a pool, then] we will weigh it against other priorities," Mayor Francis X. Murray said.

So far, he said, 524 names are on a petition for a village community pool.

"In the meantime . . . the intermunicipal agreement [with Lynbrook] . . . for 100 families . . . is a viable option," he added.

Under the agreement, Rockville Centre families will pay $750 annually for seasonal pool membership, about $300 more than the cost for Lynbrook families. The pool is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends only from Memorial Day weekend to the end of the school year in June. From then through Labor Day it is open daily those same hours. The pool is closed after Labor Day.

Lynbrook Mayor William Hendrick said the agreement follows Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's suggestion for municipalities to share services.

"This also is an attempt to add revenue to help with the pools budget," he added.

Lynbrook officials said the pool, slightly smaller than Olympic size, had about 3,800 users this year and cost about $180,000 a year above membership fees to operate. There is also a kiddie pool.

Although more than 500 residents signed a petition in favor of building a community swimming pool in Rockville Centre, at least one resident said he was concerned.

"Generally, I'm neither for or against it, [but] I'm concerned about liability," said Elliot Winograd, a retired lawyer for the New York City Department of Law.

"Accidental drownings are the fifth leading cause of death in the nation," he said, "and in New York City, half of about 36 such deaths a year are children 4 years old and younger."

He also said municipal insurance for the pool is very expensive.

"There are nearby pools we can use, Lynbrook, Freeport and Oceanside, to name a few," he said.