Lone Public Pool On UWS Remains Closed; When Will It Reopen?

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — With summer in full swing this year, Upper West Side residents may be wondering where they can go to cool off.

The Frederick Douglass Mini Pool, on Amsterdam Avenue between 100th and 101st streets, is the sole public pool in the neighborhood, but residents may need to wait longer before they can enjoy a swim.

A message on the New York City Parks Department website for the Frederick Douglass Pool says that the pool is currently closed and could remain that way for the next week.

"We apologize for the inconvenience. We expect this condition to be resolved by July 10," the message read.

The city did not specify the reason for the closure, but commenters online said it had to do with the ongoing lifeguard shortage in New York City and across the U.S.

Since 2022, the city has struggled to recruit an adequate number of lifeguards, falling far short of the approximately 1,000 needed, officials have acknowledged.

Efforts to hire enough lifeguards for this season were less successful than anticipated, with officials telling the New York Post that the city's public pools will experience rolling partial closures due to staffing shortages.

Last year, the city's park department had under 700 lifeguards for beaches and pools, well short of the 1,400 it had pre-pandemic, Gothamist first reported.

As a response, the city has since raised lifeguard pay to $22 an hour, along with a $1,000 per year bonus for returning lifeguards.

“Investing in our city's public pools is a vital step towards ensuring the well-being and safety of New Yorkers — especially as we face hotter summers,” said New York State Senator Jamaar Bailey.

How to become a NYC lifeguard

Applicants must be at least 16 years old, have at least 20/30 vision in one eye and 20/40 in the other without corrective lenses, and demonstrate the ability to swim 50 yards in 45 seconds or less with proper form.

The qualifying test includes a swim exam and a vision exam.

Applicants will also have to undergo a 16-session training program to receive certification.

More information about becoming a lifeguard is available on the city Parks Department website.

Earlier this month, Adams also announced "Let’s Swim NYC," a $1 billion capital investment in public pools over five years, marking the largest funding allocation for public pools in over 50 years.

The investment encompasses funding for 39 existing pools, along with the construction of two new indoor pools and the renovation of three others.

“New York City’s pools and beaches are incredible places for New Yorkers to come together, learn to swim, and beat the heat — and as climate change makes heat waves like this week’s more common and more severe, the need for pools has never been greater,” Adams said. “We’re making a splash with our billion-dollar investment over five years, which will open up more, better pools in all five boroughs for working-class New Yorkers to freely use.”

Approximately $85 million out of the total investment will be allocated to state-of-good-repair projects aimed at preserving aging infrastructure, officials said. This includes repairs to pool tubs, electrical and structural enhancements, upgrades to utilities and ventilation systems, and the installation of new decks, lighting and filtration systems.