After many predictions of summer closures in NYC due to COVID-19 and budget cuts, New Yorkers now have multiple ways of cooling off in the hot weather.
On the same day that NYC beaches have reopened to the public for swimming and sunbathing, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that 15 NYC public pools will reopen this summer. And now, eight of them will open ahead of schedule.
Originally only three pools were opening this Friday, July 24. Now five additional ones will open. They are:
Bronx
- Mullaly (Highbridge)
Queens
- Liberty (Jamaica)
- Fisher (East Elmhurst)
Brooklyn
- Sunset (Sunset Park)
- Kosciuszko (Bed-Stuy)
Manhattan
- Wagner
Staten Island
- Lyons (Tompkinsville)
- Tottenville
“We were not sure before whether we would be able to open some of them, but now we will be able to open some of our biggest outdoor pools, and some of the outdoor pools in the communities hit hardest by the coronavirus,” he said. “For families and kids in particular this is going to be so important.”
The Mayor said they are not opening all of the city’s pools, and had to “make some choices,” but tried to pick ones that “would have the maximum benefit for the people hit hardest,” including the largest ones and those in communities farthest from the beach.
The remaining pools are set open on August 1. They are: Crotona & Haffen in the Bronx, Astoria in Queens, Hamilton Fish, Jackie Robinson Park, and Marcus Garvey in Manhattan, and Betsy Head in Brooklyn.
Of course, he said there would be social distancing measures in place and face coverings required when not swimming in the pool.
In other news: NYC Beaches Are Now Open, Here Are The Rules You Need To Know
featured image source: NYC Parks, Astoria Park Pool