Opened in 1936, Astoria Pool is the largest of New York City’s 39 public pools. Photo courtesy of New York City Parks Department
June 19, 2024 Irina Shkurhan
With summers expected to get even hotter over the next few years, New York City announced major investments this week in the city’s swimming pools, just before dozens of them open for the season on June 26.
On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation launched “Let’s Swim NYC,” a $1 billion investment over five years to build, improve and protect the city’s pools, which they noted is the largest investment in pools since the 1970s.
“New York City’s pools and beaches are wonderful places where New Yorkers can gather, learn to swim and beat the heat. And as climate change makes heatwaves like this week’s more frequent and more severe, the need for pools has never been greater,” Mayor Adams said in a statement. “We’re investing $1 billion over five years to open more and better pools at the disposal of working class New Yorkers in all five boroughs.”
The plan calls for funding 39 existing pools, building two brand new indoor pools and overhauling three outdoor pools, including new decks, filtration systems and structural work to protect aging infrastructure.
The city’s largest pool, the Astoria Pool, which holds 1 million gallons of water, is set to reopen this season after being closed for nearly two years for renovations. The $19 million renovation included updated filtration and chemical treatment systems, as well as a new pool deck, shell and lighting.
At Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans, a new Construction is currently underway on a recreation center with a $147 million indoor pool, one of two along with a second indoor pool. Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center It is located in East Flatbush and is scheduled to be a part of the city’s parks starting in 2008.
“Our city’s free public pools allow New Yorkers of all backgrounds to relax, exercise and cool off on hot summer days,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donohue. “But public pools are more than a luxury — they’re a vital public resource that promotes public health and protects communities from extreme heat. With these ambitious projects totaling more than $1 billion, we’re proud to be part of an Administration that is investing in our public pool network to ensure all New Yorkers have access to safe, well-maintained public spaces.”
In May, the Parks Department also announced it was considering off-season revitalization at six pools over the winter, which could result in more active and engaging programming on the pool decks and increase recreational options for the community.
Of the six pools under consideration, the Astoria Pool is undergoing renovation work and is being considered for use as a diving pool plaza from October to March.
As the first heatwave of the year rages on, some lawmakers are questioning why the city’s pools are opening weeks after beaches, saying they’re missing out on cooling off for much of June as temperatures soar.
Board Members Parks and Recreation Committee Chairman Shekhar Krishnan announced he will introduce a bill to extend the opening hours of city pools from mid-May to mid-October. The bill also proposes extending pool hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
He noted that pools would be “useless” if they were closed on hot days and understaffed beaches would become “dangerous”.
“Long term, we need to build more public pools. For a city as big as ours, we have a shockingly low number of pools. My district covers densely immigrant neighborhoods like Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Woodside, but we have zero pools. This means our families are denied not only the cooling benefits of a public pool, but also the life-saving water safety education they need.”
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