Adult lap swim returns to NYC pools for first time since pandemic — but only at 5 sites

The city’s adult lap swim program is returning for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, but will operate in a limited capacity amid a local and national lifeguard shortage.

Officials held an event Thursday ahead of the opening of the city’s more than 50 public pools for the season, and they stressed that they’ve made strides with hiring. The Gottesman Pool, which serves as the centerpiece of the new $160 million Davis Center near the Harlem Meer at the northern end of Central Park, is among the pools that will open.

“Year after year, we keep on increasing the ability to provide programming,” Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa said at the event, which was held at the Davis Center.

Starting on July 7, five pools — one in each borough — will have lap swimming three days a week. Lap swim will be open from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the Van Cortlandt Pool in the Bronx, Kosciuszko Pool in Brooklyn, Hamilton Fish Park Pool in Manhattan, Astoria Park Pool in Queens and Lyons Pool on Staten Island.

That’s still far more limited than what was offered in 2019 — the last time the city made lap swimming available. At the time, a parks department spokesperson said, lap swimming was available in most of the city’s larger outdoor pools. Those offerings included separate "early bird" and night sessions that were popular with older New Yorkers as well.

“ We're excited to bring this back as a very important community program,” Emily Chase, the parks department's assistant commissioner for public programs, said at Thursday’s event. “ It's a great place to meet people, to be a part of an amazing, diverse New York City community right in your local park.”

City officials also said they now have 680 lifeguards for the summer, 10% more than during the same time in 2024, and expect to hire more as lifeguard certification continues through mid-July. In 2019, about 1,400 lifeguards worked city beaches and pools.

The new oval-shaped Gottesman Pool, which has replaced the outdated Lasker Rink and Pool in northern Central Park, has been under construction since 2021. During the summer, it provides room for more than 1,000 swimmers, making it one of the city’s largest pools. The space will be converted to a turf field in the fall and an ice rink in the winter.

“This is our Hamptons. This is our Martha's Vineyard,” said state Sen. Cordell Cleare, who represents Upper Manhattan.

Dr. Maurice Franklin, the chair of Parks and Recreation for Community Board 10, said renovating this pool has invigorated members of the Central Harlem community.

“ It represents another milestone of access and equity in our community,” Franklin said.

The parks department is expanding its free, all-ages Learn to Swim programs from six to 10 pools across the city, including the Gottesman Pool. Franklin said he hopes the expansion improves racial disparities when it comes to swimming.

According to a study conducted by the USA Swimming Foundation in 2017, 64% of African American children have little to no swimming ability.

“This will ensure that kids, even more communities get access to lifesaving water skills,” Rodriguez-Rosa said.

Free lunches will once again be offered at all outdoor pools to any New Yorker under 18 years old, through a partnership between the city's parks and education departments.

Public pools will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Sept. 7.

This story has been updated with more information.