Mayor Mamdani opens NYC outdoor pool season for summer 2026
Mayor Zohran Mamdani kicked off New York City's 2026 outdoor pool season on Saturday, June 27, jumping into the Thomas Jefferson Pool in East Harlem with local families. Every borough now has access to a free public swimming facility through September 13, marking 90 years since the WPA-era Olympic pools opened.
NYC Parks operates 53 outdoor pools across all five boroughs, and the annual opening arrives as students begin summer break and temperatures climb. For more on how city events and public-service announcements play in local coverage, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Key Takeaways
- Outdoor pools open daily June 27 through Sept. 13, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a mandatory cleaning break from 3 to 4 p.m.
- Learn to Swim expands from 10 to 18 pools with more than 16,000 class slots; adult lap swim grows from five to 10 pools.
- More than 1 million people visited city pools last summer, with more expected this year.
- Haffen Pool, Tony Dapolito, and Red Hook face closures or delayed openings; check NYC Parks for updates.
- The city marks 90 years since 11 WPA-built Olympic-sized pools opened in 1936.
When Do NYC Outdoor Swimming Facilities Open?
The Department of Parks and Recreation opened outdoor pools citywide on Saturday, June 27. According to ABC7 New York, the season runs through Sept. 13, with hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and a one-hour cleaning break from 3 to 4 p.m.
Admission is free and open to all. Visitors should bring a swimsuit, towel, and a sturdy lock for locker storage. Free sunscreen is available at every outdoor pool site.
What Free Swim Programs Are Available?
NYC Parks is expanding several summer aquatics offerings. Free Learn to Swim classes grow from 10 to 18 outdoor pools, creating more than 16,000 slots for children ages 18 months to 17. Registration is open now, with programs running July 6 through Aug. 28.
Adult lap swim expands from five to 10 pools—two per borough—Monday through Friday from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Senior Splash also returns at five pools, offering free water aerobics for New Yorkers 62 and older three days a week.
Which Pools Are Closed or Delayed?
Most outdoor pools opened Saturday, but a few exceptions remain. THE CITY reports Haffen Pool in the Bronx is closed for a $13.4 million reconstruction, and Manhattan's Tony Dapolito center is shut for a full renovation including its outdoor pool.
Red Hook Pool in Brooklyn faces a delayed opening after flooding damaged equipment beneath the pool during preparations. The Parks Department expects an updated timeline on July 2 and suggests Douglass & Degraw or Sunset Park as alternatives.
Why Is NYC Celebrating 90 Years of Public Pools?
This summer marks the 90th anniversary of 11 Olympic-sized outdoor pools built through the federal Works Progress Administration in 1936. Mayor Mamdani called the WPA-era facilities a reminder of what public investment can deliver for working New Yorkers.
To honor the milestone, NYC Parks will distribute commemorative towels and collectible buttons at each WPA pool on its anniversary date, with the first 200 guests receiving items. Thomas Jefferson Pool, where Mamdani celebrated opening day, originally opened on June 27, 1936.