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Demolition of a portion of the bathhouse at Dobbs Ferry's Gould Park began on Monday morning, May 13 following a fire that damaged the building in late March, village officials said.
The fire, which happened on Saturday, March 30 around 8:15 p.m., prompted a response from the Westchester County Hazmat team after flames came dangerously close to the building's chlorine room. Luckily, this did not happen and the blaze was put out after a little more than two hours with no reported injuries.
Since the fire, the bathhouse has been unusable thanks to water and smoke damage. Additionally, an environmental inspection of the damaged building also revealed the presence of asbestos, which required the village to seek a permit for its removal before scheduling the demolition.
Following the discovery of asbestos, the village was able to secure the necessary permits and schedule the demolition. Luckily, the process did not affect preparation for the opening of the park's pool, which will still open on time during Memorial Day weekend, village officials said.
When the pool opens, the Westchester County Health Department will let the park use trailer bathrooms and showers for the season.
The part of the bathhouse damaged in the fire dates back to the 1930s, according to the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society.
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