Brooklynites who spent the recent back-to-back heat waves sweating it out without their favorite local swimming pool can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
While the rest of New York City’s public pools kicked off their 2026 swim season on June 27, Red Hook residents were left stranded on dry land—forced to trek out of their neighborhood just to cool off.
Luckily, the wait is over. Following weeks of frustrating delays and emergency repairs, the iconic Olympic-sized Red Hook Pool has officially opened its gates for the summer season.
Just two days before the citywide pool rollout in late June, workers discovered that the Red Hook Pool’s filtration plant had flooded, severely damaging the equipment. It felt like a bad case of déjà vu for the community, which dealt with a major closure during the 2025 season after a broken underground pipe flooded the pump room.
Thankfully, repair crews managed to fix the filtration system ahead of schedule this time around, and the pool is now ready for all your cannonballing desires.
A historic Brooklyn oasis
Built during the Great Depression by the Works Progress Administration, the Red Hook Pool first opened its doors during a record-breaking heat wave in August 1936.
That means the facility is officially celebrating 90 years of public swimming this summer (along with several others across the city)!
The architecture and scale are seriously stunning.
Measuring a staggering 330 by 130 feet, it’s one of the largest public pools in the city, with enough space to accommodate up to 4,460 bathers at a time.
Complete with separate wading areas, perimeter bleachers, and a massive bathhouse, the pool and play center were designated an official New York City landmark in 2008.
A $122 million renovation on the horizon
To ensure these frustrating seasonal closures become a thing of the past, the facility is gearing up for a massive overhaul.
A planned $122 million renovation will completely reconstruct the Red Hook Recreation Center and Pool. The project aims to:
- Repair lingering structural damage from Hurricane Sandy
- Modernize the building to comply with current codes
- Add crucial storm hazard mitigation and sustainability upgrades
Currently in the design phase, construction for the project is slated to begin in 2028.
Everything you need to know before you go
Access to the pool is completely free, but NYC Parks has a few strict rules you’ll want to keep in mind before packing your beach bag.
Swimmers are urged to bring a sturdy combination lock to secure your belongings in the locker rooms. You will also need to leave food, glass bottles, and electronic devices at home.
If you want to cover up from the sun on the pool deck, you’re only allowed to wear a plain white shirt or white hat—colored shirts are strictly prohibited on the deck. (Don’t worry about burning, though; free sunscreen is provided on-site!).
Like all NYC pools, it gets incredibly busy on peak summer days. You’ll definitely want to arrive early to skip the massive lines, and remember that the pool shuts down daily in the mid-afternoon for a mandatory cleaning break.
The details
📍 Location: Red Hook Recreation Area (Bay and Henry Streets)
🗓️ Dates: Open daily now through Labor Day weekend
⏰ Hours: 11 am to 7 pm (Closed 3 pm to 4 pm for cleaning)
🎟️ Admission: 100% Free