New York City’s summer has arrived, making it the perfect time for swimming. Mayor Mamdani and the Parks Department announced on the 12th that the city will be offering 18 outdoor free swimming lessons. This year, there are 8 more swimming classes compared to previous years. Registration is now open and will continue until the end of August.
Mayor Mamdani stated that the free swimming lessons provided by the New York City parks annually offer swim courses to nearly 20,000 youths aged 1.5 to 17 years old. Not only does this save families hundreds of dollars in course fees, but it also cultivates lifelong water safety skills. Last summer, nearly 6,000 children and their parents participated in outdoor pool swimming lessons. This summer’s lessons will accommodate over 16,000 participants.
In his statement, Mayor Mamdani said, “Every child should be able to safely enjoy water activities. Therefore, we are expanding the coverage of free swimming lessons in five boroughs to enable more New Yorkers to acquire this essential survival skill, save on expenses for families, and ensure that every child can confidently play in the water.”
All outdoor swimming pools in New York City will open on June 27, with the summer swimming lessons scheduled from July 6 to August 28. Of course, swim lessons will also be available in the fall, winter, and spring. Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura mentioned that this year’s free swimming lessons are the most extensive since 2019.
Summer swim classes will be held in 18 public pools across the five boroughs of New York City. Queens will have three locations, including Astoria Pool, Fisher Pool, and Liberty Pool. The Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island will each offer classes at 3, 5, 5, and 2 pools, respectively. For registration and the full list of courses, please visit the link: https://tinyurl.com/49zymtey
Registration will be done through a free and secure online lottery system. Applicants not selected will be placed on a waiting list. Participants should take note of the following: each person is limited to selecting one course; registering multiple times will not increase your chances of being selected.
Please register each child separately. If you have multiple children who wish to participate in swimming lessons, each child must have a separate application submitted.
Registration slots are non-transferable. If you or your child is selected, the slot cannot be transferred to another person, including family members. For more information about the swimming program, please visit the link: nyc.gov/parks/aquatics