Chill Out: Your Guide To City Pools
June 20, 2011, 2:22 p.m.
With summer in full swing, we take a look at some of the city's best swimming holes.
With the burning, unstoppable sun beating down upon every conceivable surface, it's only natural to feel the urge to submerge your scorched flesh into a tub of cool water. Relief! Must have relief. Here's where to get it.
Public Pools: All Parks Department pools will open for the season on June 29. There are 54 to choose from, but here are some of the best bets:
Floating Pool Lady at Barretto Point Park: This totally unique seven-lane pool is actually on a barge that's parking itself in the Bronx all summer, featuring great views of the city's waterfront, plus a cool gangplank to get between land and water.
Barretto Point Park, Tiffany St and Viele Ave, Hunts Point, 718-430-4601. Hours: Sat-Sun, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Astoria Park Pool: Nestled between the Triborough and Hell Gate bridges, this Art Deco-styled pool offers one of the most scenic views you're likely to find anywhere. It's also the largest pool in the city (at 330 ft), and played host to the Olympic swimming and diving trials in 1936.
19th St and 23rd Dr, Queens, 718-626-8620, call for hours
The Astoria Pool (NYC Parks Dept.)
John Jay Pool: It's one of the few city pools (the other is at Tony Dapolito Recreation Center in the West Village) with a separate diving pool, sitting alongside the the East River with lovely trees all around. Plus, there's a snackbar!
FDR Drive, East 76 to East 78 Sts, Cherokee Place, 212-794-6566. Hours: daily, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Sunset Park Pool: Described as "one of New York’s hidden treasures," this oft-overlooked Olympic-sized pool has a great vista from Sunset Park, the second-highest point in Brooklyn (the first is Greenwood Cemetery), and a retro neoclassical/Art Deco aesthetic.
Seventh Ave between 41st and 44th Sts, 718-965-6578, call for hours
Other Pools: In case going public isn't your style, there are still more options for cooling down.
Dumpster Pools: After moving from Brooklyn over to Park Avenue, the popular (if not exactly good for lap-swimming) Summer Streets-sponsored dumpster pools (they're clean and refreshing, we promise!) have become a summertime favorite, and they're parking once again in Midtown for the first three weeks of August.
Park Ave between 40th and 41st Sts; Aug 6, 13, 20th; 7 a.m.- 1 p.m., free
Rooftop Pool at Le Parker Meridien: It's not cheap, but for those seeking a more exclusive swim, try Le Parker Meridien's Gravity Fitness Center, a glassed-in pool on the 42nd floor of the building, complete with Astroturf, lounge chairs, an observation deck and poolside food service from the hotel's restaurants.
119 W 56th St; open year-round Mon-Fri 6 a.m.- 10:45 p.m., Sat-Sun 8 a.m.- 8:45 p.m., 212-708-7340; day pass $100, yearlong membership $2,000
Le Parker Meridien's Pool (Le Parker Meridien)
The Grace Hotel: If you care more about lounging than laps, head to the Grace Hotel's pool, which is smaller than most, but home to weekly DJ-and-drink filled parties for the beautiful people. It's steamy, sleek and dimly lit, the way any New York pool party should be.
125 W 45th St; open year-round 5 p.m.- 2 a.m.; 212-380-2822; $10 plus two-drink minimum
+Pool: Okay, this floating pool doesn't actually exist yet. But the idea is to make it possible to one day swim directly in the (triple-filtered) East River, which sounds like a dream come true.
