New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa announced yesterday that a total of 60 public outdoor swimming pools in the five boroughs are officially opening today (Friday, June 27) to provide residents with free cooling options. Among them, the most prominent is the newly opened “Gottesman Pool”.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Gottesman Pool took place today in Central Park. This new pool is located at the Davis Center on the banks of Harlem Meer and is part of a massive $160 million reconstruction project replacing the aging Lasker Pool and Ice Skating Rink. The project, led by the Central Park Conservancy, received $60 million in funding from the city government, with the rest being supported by private donations.
The Gottesman Pool stretches 285 feet long and 120 feet wide, surpassing Olympic standards, and can accommodate over 1,000 swimmers, making it one of the largest public pools in New York City. The pool’s design complements the landscape with an open curved structure that is not only spacious and comfortable but also seamlessly integrates with the natural surroundings of the park, offering a resort-like swimming experience in the city.
During the winter, the pool will be transformed into an ice skating rink, while in the spring and fall, it will become a multi-functional grassy area called the “Harlem Oval”, ensuring year-round activation of the space.
“We teach children how to swim, which is as important as teaching them how to read,” Mayor Adams stated at the pool opening press conference. “This is not just for recreation but also for safety education.”
This summer, the city government announced that the number of lifeguards has reached 680, nearly a 10% increase from the same period last year. With the certification process ongoing in the coming weeks, the number is expected to grow further. The city also announced the relaunch of the “Adult Lap Swim Hours” program and expanded the free “Learn to Swim” program from 6 outdoor pools last year to 10.
All outdoor public pools in the city are free to enter, with no ticket purchase or reservation required. They are open daily from 11 am to 7 pm, with a break for pool cleaning from 3 pm to 4 pm. Citizens can visit the city government’s “Outdoor Pools” page on their website at https://tinyurl.com/pkrmavy4 for more information or use the “Cool It! NYC” map to find cooling facilities in their communities, including pools, splash pads, water fountains, and more.