Summer is here and NYC’s outdoor pools are officially open for the season starting this week (June 29)! School is out, the temperatures are rising and it’s the perfect time to cool off in one of NYC’s free outdoor public pools. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly atmosphere or just trying to beat the sunshine with some friends, we’ve got a list that will keep you covered. From Manhattan to Staten Island, we’ve listed out just some some of the free NYC pools that you should dip your toes into this summer.
Table Of Contents
Best Public Pools in Manhattan
Let’s start with our favorite pools in Manhattan. It’s important to note that two of our normally favorite free NYC pools in Manhattan are closed this summer. These are are Tony Dapolito Pool and Harlem Meer Center Pool (formerly Lasker Pool). However, there are still some good options to pick from. Check these out:
1. Hamilton Fish Pool
The Hamilton Fish Pool is great for the whole family. An Olympic sized lap pool is juxtaposed with a wading pool for younger swimmers. There is no lounge furniture at this pool though so remember to bring towels to sit on while you’re not in the water.
Where: 128 Pitt St
2. Jackie Robinson Pool
The Jackie Robinson Pool in Harlem is the perfect spot to grab some shade and do some splashing all day long. Their two story brick bathhouse is gorgeous in terms of its architecture and its pool is just as nice. The reason we love this pool so much is because there are so many trees surrounding pool that will help keep you shaded on those hot, sunny days.
Where: Bradhurst Avenue and W. 146th Street
3. John Jay Pool
Like the rest of the pools, the John Jay swimming pool opens daily from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, & 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Where: 530 E 78th St
4. Marcus Garvey Pool
This pool in Harlem is open from 11 am – 7 pm daily, with a pool cleaning of 3 pm – 4 pm. This pool offers free swimming lessons throughout the summer as well as dedicated lap swimming hours and other programs!
Where: 124th Street and Fifth Avenue
5. Asser Levy Recreation Center Pool and Playground
Asser Levy Rec Center not only offers a massive outdoor pool and a wading pool for young ones, their location offers a playground, basketball courts, a game room, and indoor swimming housed in a bathhouse!
Where: 390 Asser Levy Pl
6. Highbridge Pool
Located right along the Harlem River, this spot has two Olympic-sized swimming pools (with one of them being a wading pool). Plus, there’s outdoor co-ed lockers and showers for patrons to use as well. It’s even been spotted in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights movie!
Where: 2301 Amsterdam Ave
Best Free Pools in Brooklyn
No matter where you are in Brooklyn, you’ll be able to find a public pool near you (that probably won’t be as crowded as Manhattan). Many of these pools are in great neighborhoods and offer so many things to do after you’re done swimming for the day. Let’s dive into our favorite Brooklyn pools:
1. McCarren Park Pool
The McCarren Pool is one of the city’s newest renovated pools. Located at the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, the 37,571-square-foot pool and spacious deck and lounge area makes it a great place for tourists and locals alike to stay cool.
Where: 776 Lorimer St, Brooklyn
2. Red Hook Pool
The Red Hook Pool is another one of the city’s full sized Olympic pools with a large recreation area. We like to think of this particular pool as “the pool for the experienced swimmers.”
Where: 155 Bay St
3. Sunset Park Pool
After taking a small hike through Sunset Park, reach the apex of the park where you’ll find an Olympic size swimming pool and some of the best views of the Statue of Liberty! There’s also a play area since it’s a public park as well as a bath house, and more. You can find anyone from locals to tourists at this pool!
Where: Seventh Avenue between 41st and 44th Streets
4. Douglass and DeGraw Pool
This kid friendly pool is great for families. It has a large shaded deck area and a separate kiddie pool as well. Plus, Douglass and DeGraw Pool offers the perfect Instagram backgrounds (if you can sneak in your phone) with its fluorescent colored walls and trendy paint styles.
Where: 230 Douglas Street
Best Free Pools in Queens, Staten Island, and Bronx
The luxury of visiting pools outside of Manhattan is often having great views of Manhattan. From the Floating Pool that quite literally sits in the water with a view of the city, to the Astoria Pool which offers a picturesque view of one of NYC’s famous bridges, heading to one of these borough’s pools can offer a different experience. Here’s some free NYC pools you should check out from Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx:
1. Lyons Pool
Lyons Pool offers the normal public pool hours and is the largest public pool in Staten Island! Great for kids, families and adults.
Where: 6 Victory Blvd, Staten Island
2. Floating Pool
The Floating Pool or, as it’s formally called, the Barretto Point Park isn’t quite as large as an Olympic pool but it’s big enough for a quick cool down. The views are pretty great as well.
Where: Tiffany St & Viele Avenue, Bronx
3. Crotona Pool
Crotona Pool offers one of the largest pools in the Bronx and is complete with a wading pool for the kids and even a bath house too. The pool is nearly 4x the size of an Olympic pool and has chairs around the perimeter as well so you can tan while you swim! The bathhouse is a piece of art in itself with it’s animal themed Art Deco design, and it’s an overall great spot to swim for free in the Bronx.
Where: 173rd Street and Fulton Avenue
For a full list of all the public pools across all 5 boroughs, head over to NYC Parks website, here.