NYC opens free public pools for summer 2024. Here's how to find one near you.
NEW YORK -- It's officially summer in New York City. Schools are out, and pools are open.
Dozens of free public pools opened across the city Thursday. Mayor Eric Adams kicked off the season at the city's largest pool in Astoria, Queens.
"This is our French Riviera. This is our Bahamas, Bermuda. This is our luxury vacation," Adams said.
The line to get in stretched around the block on the first day of summer break in the city.
"The simple fact that I used to come here as a teenager, and now that my kids are able to go here, I think it's a really great experience for them, and I'm glad that this is something they can do during the summer," mother Amber Lewis said.
"It's public. Everybody's able to enjoy it together," Yesenia Palomino said.
"It looks so new. It's so nice," 10-year-old Mason Garcia added.
Astoria Pool is nearly 90 years old and recently underwent a $19 million renovation. Last week, Adams also announced a $1 billion initiative to create two new pools and renovate three others in the next five years.
"These facilities are not just luxuries. They are necessities," Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue said.
See our list of the best pools and beaches around NYC for summer 2024.
When do NYC pools open for 2024?
New York City's free public pools officially opened for the season on Thursday.
They will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, with a break for cleaning between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Find a free NYC pool near me
The city has more than 50 outdoor pools across the five boroughs. Use this link to find one near you and learn more.
Pools range in size, including 13 Olympic-sized pools:
- Brooklyn: Betsy Head Pool, Kosciuszko Pool, McCarren Park Pool, Red Hook Pool and Sunset Park Pool
- The Bronx: Crotona Pool and Van Cortlandt Pool
- Manhattan: Hamilton Fish Pool, Highbridge Pool, Jackie Robinson Pool and Thomas Jefferson Pool
- Queens: Astoria Pool
- Staten Island: Lyons Pool
You can also find water features, like sprinklers and fountains, here.
NYC pool rules and safety
City pools have strict rules about what you can wear and what you can bring with you.
Swimsuits are required for all visitors. If you need to cover up, only plain, white shirts and hats are allowed.
The Parks Department says sunscreen is provided at all locations.
Locks are also required to keep your belongings safe.
Visitors are not allowed to bring food, glass bottles, electronic devices or newspapers. Officials also recommend leaving jewelry, credit cards and other valuables at home.
The city offers free swim lessons for multiple age groups. Most of the current sessions have closed, but you can sign up for the waiting list here.
