NYC Pools 2023: Here's What To Know Before You Cool Down

NEW YORK CITY — Splish splash, New Yorkers — the city's pools are open for swimming this summer.

Dozens of public pools opened the last week of June as schools closed and the summer officially began.

The good news is anyone can enter for free and enjoy splashes, classes, sunbaths and views. The bad? Er.

Well for one, there's the an ongoing lifeguard shortage. Then there's the wildfire smoke that had New York City officials warning against strenuous outdoor exercise. Finally there are a lot of quirky rules about what you can and cannot bring with you.

It's white cover-ups only.

So for those of you hoping to get some economic laps in once the weather clears, here's a guide to make swim life a little easier.

Happy summer, happy swimming, don't inhale tiny green bugs.

Pool Locations

There are 53 free outdoor pools in New York City, some Olympic-sized, some waders, all free. Manhattan has 16, The Bronx has nine, Brooklyn has 14, Queens and Staten Island have seven.

Here's where to find them.

Pool Times

Outdoor pool hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a cleaning break between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., seven days a week from June 28 through Sept. 10.

But while outdoor New York City public pools technically opened Thursday, that doesn't mean they'll stay that way.

An ongoing lifeguard shortage could make some people's pool plans belly flop. The city's park department only has 650 lifeguards for beaches and pools this season, well short of the 1,400 it had pre-pandemic, Gothamist first reported. The shortage could lead to closures, as can construction and other issues.

"This pool is currently closed," stated online notices for seven pool Friday.

New Yorkers can check whether pools are open or closed, how big they are and where they are at the NYC Parks official site here.

Pool Fashion And Accessories

There will be bouncers. And they will check your bathing suit.

Swimmers must bring a bathing suit and expect to get checked at the door. Men's trunks should have linings and all cover ups must be white. Babies and toddlers can wear swim diapers.

New Yorkers also have to bring a lock — no luggage locks allowed — and be prepared to ditch or store the following:

• Food
• Glass bottles
• Electronic devices
• Newspapers
• Floats

What can you bring? A book. A towel. Friends!

Crowds

Here's a flip side to the lifeguard shortage: will people even show up to the pools, especially with the poor recent air quality and swarms of aphids?

The answer, for at least one Manhattan pool, was "no."

Tweeted a WCBS 880 reporter Friday, "The Marcus Garvey pool here in Harlem was only 1/2 open."