Where can you go to really cool off on summer afternoons? The city is full of public pools that offer that most surreal of summer-in-the-city experiences: the urban pool party.
All city outdoor pools are free and open to the public starting this Friday through Labor Day. General hours of operation are 11am to 7pm. Call individual pools for more specific information, or online at nycgovparks.org.
Asser Levy Recreation Center
East 23rd St. & FDR
212-447-2020
Pack some sandwiches and spend the day splashing around this outdoor pool in Kips Bay, which dates from the 1930s. There’s also a wading pool for toddlers. Swim lessons are available to members.
Astoria Pool
Astoria Park, 19th St. at 23rd Drive, Queens
718-626-8620
At 165 feet wide by 330 feet long, this pool — situated on the East River — is the largest in the city and has incredible views of Manhattan’s skyline. Opened by Robert Moses in 1936, the Art Deco pool features vintage details such as mushroom fountains that spray water 25 feet in the air, underwater lighting fixtures, “no water pistols” signs, and wooden changing booths.
Barretto Point Park
Tiffany St. & Viele Ave., Bronx
718-617-2373
The “Floating Pool Lady,” a seven-lane pool on a barge, has parked in Hunts Point this summer. The freshwater pool has a pool house, locker rooms, bathrooms and great views of the NYC waterfront.
Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
1 Clarkson St. (7th Ave. South & Leroy)
212-242-5228
Formerly known as the Carmine Recreation Center, this West Village 100-feet by 50-feet outdoor pool has lap lanes in the deep end and a diving board. Constructed in the 1930s, a large fish mural was added in 1987 by pop-artist Keith Haring. The locals play handball and bocce at the on site courts, and the kids can play at the playground and ball fields.
Hamilton Fish Recreation Center
127 Pitt St. (East Houston & Stanton)
212-387-7687
Built in 1936 and renovated in 1992, this pool was used by the 1952 Olympic team to prepare for the games in Helsinki, Finland. Offers two outdoor pools: a good-sized kiddie pool (2-1/2 feet deep all around) and one for older kids (3-1/2 feet deep all around).
John Jay Pool
77th St. & Cherokee Place
212-794-6566
One of two pools in Manhattan (the other being at Tony Dapolito) that allows diving. The center also houses a snack bar and a small playground with benches.
Riverbank State Park
679 Riverside Drive at 145th St.
212-694-3665
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 3:30-5:30pm; Sat., 1:30-6pm; Sun., 9am-6pm; 4 to 15 years $1; adults $2.
This is a state-run pool and there is a small fee. Perched 69 feet above the Hudson River, the 25 yard pool offers panoramic views of the George Washington Bridge and the Jersey Palisades. The nearby park features nice grassy picnic areas.
Sunset Park Recreation Center
7th Ave. at 43rd St., Brooklyn
718-965-6533
Sunset Park sits on the highest point in Brooklyn and offers great views of the Manhattan skyline along with an Olympic size outdoor pool.