11
Pools Are Free This Summer And It’s All Thanks to Mayor Mamdani
NYC’s Outdoor Pools Are Open for Summer 2026 — And They’re Turning 90!
Summer Is Here — Time to Jump In!
Imagine it’s a super hot day. The sun is blazing, you’re sweating, and all you want to do is cool off. What do you do? If you live in New York City, you head to one of the city’s awesome outdoor public pools — and guess what? They just opened for the summer!
On June 27, 2026, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura jumped into the Thomas Jefferson Pool in East Harlem to celebrate the start of the outdoor pool season. They weren’t alone — local families joined in the fun too!
But that’s not all. This summer is extra special because it’s the 90th anniversary of 11 huge, Olympic-sized pools that were built way back in 1936. That’s right — some of these pools have been around for almost a century!
What the Leaders Had to Say
The city’s leaders are really excited about the pools. Here’s what they said:
Mayor Mamdani explained why pools matter so much:
"Our public pools are beloved places to cool off on hot days, make memories with friends, and learn the lifelong skill of swimming. Ninety years ago, our City opened 11 massive Olympic-sized outdoor public pools to provide safe recreation for working New Yorkers. That legacy reminds us what government can achieve when it invests in great public works projects."
Deputy Mayor Julia Kerson added:
"It’s time for families to put on their swimsuits, dig up their goggles, and pack their towels for a day at the pool, because summer is here in New York City!"
Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said:
"Our outdoor pools are synonymous with summer in New York City. They’re where children first learn to swim, and where New Yorkers can go to beat the heat, stay fit, and connect with each other — all for free."
New and Expanded Programs This Summer
This year, NYC Parks is making it even easier for people to enjoy the water. Here’s what’s new:
1. Adult Lap Swim — Now at More Pools!
If you’re an adult who loves swimming laps to stay in shape, you’re in luck! The city is doubling the number of pools that offer lap swim.
- Before: 5 pools offered lap swim
- Now: 10 pools offer lap swim (that’s 2 in each of the 5 boroughs!)
- When: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
- Why it’s great: You get the pool all to yourself before it opens to everyone else
Here are the 10 pools offering lap swim:
| Borough | Pools |
|---|---|
| The Bronx | Claremont Pool, Van Cortlandt Pool |
| Brooklyn | Kosciuszko Pool, McCarren Pool |
| Manhattan | Gottesman Pool, Hamilton Fish Pool |
| Queens | Astoria Pool, Liberty Pool |
| Staten Island | Faber Pool, Lyons Pool |
2. Senior Splash — Free Water Aerobics for Older Adults
If you’re 62 or older and want a fun, gentle way to exercise, check out Senior Splash! This program offers free water aerobics classes at 5 outdoor pools (one in each borough).
- When: 3 days a week
- Where: Astoria, Lyons, Sunset Park, Thomas Jefferson, and Van Cortlandt pools
- Cost: Completely free!
3. Free Learn to Swim Classes — More Spots Than Ever!
Learning to swim is one of the most important skills a person can have. It keeps you safe around water and opens up a lifetime of fun. That’s why NYC Parks is offering free swim lessons for kids and teens.
Here’s what’s new this year:
- Before: Classes at 10 pools
- Now: Classes at 18 pools
- More than 16,000 class slots available
- Who can join: Kids and teens ages 18 months to 17 years old
- Cost: Free! (This saves families hundreds of dollars)
Registration is open now! Visit nycgovparks.org to sign up.
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting
Ready to go? Here’s your quick guide:
Pool Hours and Dates
- Season: June 27 through September 13, 2026
- Mini pools close: September 7
- Daily hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Cleaning break: 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (everyone out of the pool!)
What to Bring
- Swimsuit
- Towel
- A sturdy lock (for the locker room)
- Sunscreen (or use the free sunscreen provided at every pool!)
Important Details
- Admission is FREE — anyone can go!
- Free lunches are available at pool sites for all New Yorkers 18 and younger (no ID or registration needed)
- This is a partnership between NYC Parks and the Department of Education
Pro tip: Check out the Cool It! NYC map to find pools, spray showers, drinking fountains, and other ways to stay cool near you!
Happy 90th Birthday to NYC’s WPA-Era Pools!
This summer isn’t just about swimming — it’s also about celebrating history! In 1936, New York City built 11 enormous outdoor pools in just a few weeks. This was part of a huge government project called the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which was created to give people jobs during a very tough time in American history (the Great Depression).
These pools were some of the most advanced in the entire country. They had:
- State-of-the-art design
- Modern filtration systems
- Chlorination (a way to keep the water clean and safe)
And here’s the amazing part — all 11 pools are still open and being used today!
Special 90th Anniversary Gifts!
To celebrate, NYC Parks is giving away commemorative towels and collectible buttons that show the unique design of each pool. The first 200 guests on each pool’s anniversary date will receive these special items. So if you want one, get there early!
The 11 Historic Pools
Here’s a fun look at each one:
-
Astoria Pool, Queens — Opened July 2, 1936. This is NYC’s largest pool and hosted the U.S. Olympic Swim and Diving Team Trials in 1936 and 1964!
-
Betsy Head Pool, Brooklyn — Opened August 6, 1936. It replaced an even older pool from 1915. Before 1936, there were only 2 outdoor pools in the whole Parks system!
-
Crotona Pool, The Bronx — Opened July 24, 1936. Its bathhouse has cool animal sculptures from the WPA era that you can still see today.
-
Hamilton Fish Pool, Manhattan — Opened June 24, 1936. The U.S. Olympic Team trained here before the 1952 Helsinki Games!
-
Highbridge Pool, Manhattan — Opened July 14, 1936. It’s right next to the historic High Bridge Water Tower, on the site of an old reservoir.
-
Jackie Robinson Pool, Manhattan — Opened August 8, 1936 (originally called "Colonial Park Pool"). At the opening, famous dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson performed in front of 25,000 people!
-
Joseph H. Lyons Pool, Staten Island — Opened July 7, 1936. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia called it "a monument to the progressive government which would not and could not see unemployed men on the breadline."
-
McCarren Pool, Brooklyn — Opened July 31, 1936. It was designed to hold 6,800 swimmers at once — that’s like filling a whole stadium!
-
Red Hook Pool, Brooklyn — Opened August 17, 1936, in front of a crowd of 40,000 people. The New York Times called it "Red Hook’s event of the year."
-
Sunset Park Pool, Brooklyn — Opened July 20, 1936. Mayor LaGuardia dramatically switched on the pool’s underwater lights at the opening ceremony.
- Thomas Jefferson Pool, Manhattan — Opened June 27, 1936, in front of about 10,000 people. It was described as "the last word in engineering, hygiene, and construction."
Summary
Here’s the big picture:
- NYC’s outdoor pools are open from June 27 to September 13, 2026
- Everything is free — admission, sunscreen, and lunches for kids 18 and under
- Lap swim is now at 10 pools (up from 5), Monday–Friday 7–8:30 a.m.
- Senior Splash offers free water aerobics for adults 62+ at 5 pools
- Free Learn to Swim classes are now at 18 pools with 16,000+ spots for kids
- 90th anniversary of the 11 historic WPA-era pools built in 1936
- Commemorative towels and buttons for the first 200 guests on each pool’s anniversary date
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to pay to use NYC’s outdoor pools?
A: Nope! Admission is completely free for everyone. Just show up, bring your swimsuit and towel, and jump in!
Q: How do I sign my child up for free swim lessons?
A: Registration is open now! Visit nycgovparks.org to find a class near you. Classes are for kids ages 18 months to 17 years old.
Q: What are the pool hours?
A: Pools are open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a cleaning break from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day.
Q: Are there any special programs for older adults?
A: Yes! Senior Splash offers free water aerobics classes for New Yorkers 62 and older at 5 pools across the city. Classes are held 3 days a week.
Q: What are the WPA-era pools, and why are they special?
A: These are 11 Olympic-sized pools built in 1936 as part of a massive government project during the Great Depression. They were some of the most advanced pools in the country at the time, and amazingly, all 11 are still open and being used by New Yorkers today — 90 years later!
