It’s Musical Floors at Playhouse

A plan for an aquatic center and multipurpose space at the Montauk Playhouse Community Center, which has been in the works for almost eight years, has been completely revised and the cost of its construction substantially reduced, from $10 million to $7 million.

A small group gathered at the playhouse on Saturday morning to hear about the new plan from Tom Griffin, a playhouse foundation board member. The aquatic center, he said, is to be moved from the lower level to the upper, under a large bank of windows that will let in more light. “Let’s get it up there where the sunshine is,” said Mr. Griffin.

The multipurpose center will be in the cavernous ground level, the original site of the pool. The larger space will allow large-scale events to be held there, including rock concerts, theater productions, children’s concerts, arts and crafts fairs, a farmers market, car and boat shows, and the like.

To complete the now-$7 million project, the foundation will need to raise another $5 million. It already has $2 million on hand.

At 3,000 square feet and 25 yards in length, the pool will be similar to the pool at Gurney’s Inn, said Mr. Griffins. It will be five feet deep at the deepest point, with a sloping side to make entry easier for youngsters, the handicapped, and the elderly. There will be a hot tub as well, for therapeutic use.

The pool, Mr. Griffin said, will be available for personal training, private and group swim lessons, baby swim classes, scuba training, water aerobics, and many other uses. “We want to provide services for everyone,” he said.

The revised plan is the result of a survey sent to residents last fall. Most people said they would like a year-round pool to use as soon as possible.

After sitting and decaying for many years, the playhouse was renovated and opened in 2006. It currently has a widely used gymnasium, adult and child care services, and a senior citizens nutrition center. Body Tech and Manuel Sports Physical Therapy are also on the site. Fund-raisers are held year round.

There will be daily passes and membership passes for pool use, which will also raise money to maintain it. If all goes well and the money is raised, construction could be completed in 2016, said Mr. Griffin, which would be the 10-year anniversary of the playhouse’s opening.

“This isn’t that complicated. It’s time to get serious and professional about it,” he said.

Another informational meeting will be held at the playhouse Thursday at 7.