New York Construction Report staff writer
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has launched a $1 billion capital investment for building, improving and protecting New York City’s public pools over the next five years. It’s the city’s largest investment in swimming infrastructure since the 1970s, targeting 39 pools including the construction of two new indoor pools and the full renovation of three others.
Two newly completed, state-of-the-art swimming pools were unveiled at the Harry S. Truman High School campus in the Bronx. During the 2023-2024 school year, seven pools across six city campuses were updated and will be available for student and school groups and, with proper permits, outside organizations during off-school hours.
“New York City’s pools and beaches are incredible places for New Yorkers to come together, learn to swim, and beat the heat. As climate change makes heat waves more common and severe, the need for pools has never been greater. We’re making a splash with our billion-dollar investment, which will open up more, better pools in all five boroughs for working-class New Yorkers to use freely,” said Mayor Eric Adams.
Approximately $85 million of the investment will go towards state of good repair projects, including pool tub repairs, electrical and structural work, utility and ventilation upgrades, and new decks, lighting, and filtration systems.
Over 60 percent of NYC Parks pools are located near New York City Housing Authority campuses and in communities with high Heat Vulnerability Index scores. Let’s Swim NYC is one of 10 strategic initiatives in the Vital Parks for All plan, which aims to equitably strengthen the city’s health, environment, and communities through its parks system.
This summer, the following projects will be completed:
- Astoria Pool in Queens, reopening after a $19 million reconstruction with new features including a pool shell, deck, lighting, and state-of-the-art filtration and chemical treatment systems.
- A fully-renovated mini-pool at Edenwald Playground in the Bronx.
- New concrete pool decks, plantings, benches, fencing, and ADA ramps at John Jay and Sheltering Arms Pools in Manhattan and West Brighton Pool in Staten Island, modeled after the Cool Pools initiative.
- Vital renovations such as new utility lines and HVAC systems at Betsy Head Pool in Brooklyn, Lyons Pool in Staten Island, and Highbridge and Jackie Robinson Pools in Manhattan.
The city is also building new indoor pools at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens and Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Brooklyn. In partnership with the Central Park Conservancy, a new pool at Harlem Meer in Central Park will open in the summer of 2025.
