Beat the Heat: NYC Public Pools Open June 27!
It’s officially stay-near-sprinklers-or-find-a-pool hot in the city, and there’s no better way for families to cool off than with a refreshing dip in the water.
Good news: NYC public pools reopen for the season today! Whether you already have a go-to neighborhood spot or you’re ready to explore a new favorite, the city has plenty of family-friendly pools perfect for summer fun.
The outdoor Olympic- and intermediate-sized pools will remain open through Sunday, September 7, and the mini pools will stay open through Labor Day. Daily pool hours are 11 am to 3 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm, with a cleaning break from 3 pm to 4 pm. Sunscreen is provided free of charge at all NYC public pools. Free summer meals are provided to children as part of NYC’s Free Summer Meals Program.
We’ve rounded up some of the top public pools across the five boroughs to help you plan your splash-filled days. So grab the sunscreen, goggles, snacks, and towels—it’s pool time in the city!
Psst… Central Park’s Stunning New Gottesman Pool Opens
Manhattan
Gottesman Pool – Central Park North / Harlem
Where: 110th Street & Lenox Avenue (Harlem Meer)
New for summer 2025, Gottesman Pool is one of the city’s largest and most modern public pools, perfect for families who want lots of space to swim and play. Located at the northern edge of Central Park inside the new Davis Center, this sleek, resort-style pool comfortably fits over 1,000 swimmers and is surrounded by shaded seating and natural landscaping. While there’s no wading pool, the wide layout makes it a great pick for families with confident swimmers.
Abe Lincoln Pool – East Harlem
Where: E 135th St. and 5th Ave.
The outdoor mini pool at Abe Lincoln Pool in East Harlem is a good spot in the neighborhood to cool off on a hot day. When not swimming, kids can play on the playground, in the spray showers or on the basketball courts.
Asser Levy Pool – Kips Bay
Where: E. 23rd St. and Asser Levy Place
With an intermediate pool and a wading pool, Asser Levy Pool can accommodate various age spans. The wading pool is perfect for families with young kids who just want to beat the heat, and the intermediate pool, at four feet deep, is a good choice for more intermediate swimmers.
Dry Dock Pool — East Village
Where: E. 10th St. between Aves. C and D
For a more local spot to let off steam during the summer months, head on down to Dry Dock Pool in East Village. Here, children can work up a sweat on the playground and basketball court, then cool off in one of the two clean, kid-friendly pools. Both pools, one three feet deep and the other one and a half feet deep, offer lifeguard supervision, making Dry Dock Pool ideal for families with beginner swimmers.
Frederick Douglass Pool – Upper West Side
Where: Amsterdam Ave between 100th and 102nd St.
Frederick Douglass Playground features a mini pool. It’s also the only public pool on the Upper West Side, so it’s sure to be a popular pick! While it’s not an Olympic-sized swimming pool like you might find at other parks, it’s a good choice for families on the Upper West Side looking to cool off.
Hamilton Fish Park – East Village
Where: Pitt Street and E. Houston Street
This East Village pool is, to many residents, Manhattan’s best public pool! Like many of the parks with pools, this park has two pools of different sizes! There is a wading pool for the younger ones and an Olympic-size pool for older kids and adults. After your swim, you can stop at the nearby park and picnic area to continue enjoying the day.
Highbridge Pool – Washington Heights
Where: Amsterdam Ave and W 173rd St.
With an Olympic pool and a wading pool, Highbridge Pool has been a neighborhood favorite long before it was featured in In the Heights. When you’re not swimming, you can play in the spray showers, on the playgrounds or on a skate park.
Jackie Robinson Park – Harlem
Where: 145th Street at Bradhurst Avenue
Located in Harlem, this park has an Olympic-size pool with plenty of shade to better protect swimmers from the sun’s rays. There’s no need for a kiddie pool, as this one only goes as deep as 3.5 feet. But if anyone in your family is not interested in swimming, there is also a sprayground and playground right on the pool deck!
John Jay Pool — Upper East Park
Where: East of York Avenue on 77th St.
Nestled in the back of an Upper East Side park, John Jay Pool is a staple for Uptown Manhattanites. This gorgeous 145-foot pool is perfect for swimming laps or for watching boats go by in the East River. As one of the only outdoor pools in NYC with a diving area, John Jay Pool is a hit for children and adults alike. Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before it opens, as long lines form quickly, lounge chairs fill up fast, and there is a limited number of people allowed inside.
Marcus Garvey Park – Harlem
Where: 124th Street at Fifth Avenue
The Marcus Garvey pool is right in the middle of the famous park and has a maximum depth of 4 feet. It is also surrounded by a large pool deck where guests can chill out between dips.
Sheltering Arms Pool – West Harlem
Where: W. 129th St. and Amsterdam Ave.
The wading pool and intermediate pools at Sheltering Arms have maximum depths of 1.5 feet and 3.5 feet, respectively, making them good options for families and early swimmers. The pool deck has comfortable chairs and umbrellas.
Thomas Jefferson Pool – East Harlem
Where: E. 112th St and First Ave.
Located within Thomas Jefferson Park, Thomas Jefferson Pool is just one of many things to do on a summer day. It’s also located right by barbecuing areas, so your family can have a full day of fun at the pool!
Vesuvio Pool – South Village
Where: Thompson St. between Spring & Prince St.
Vesuivo Playground is one of the few greenspaces in the South Village, complete with a three-foot mini pool, sandboxes, spray showers and more.
Wagner Pool – East Harlem
Where: E. 124th Street between First and Second Avenue
Just having opened in the summer of 2019, this is a medium-sized pool in East Harlem, and it’s surrounded by cool, colorful walls and beach chairs. There is also a wading pool on-site so kids of all ages and skill levels can enjoy themselves.
Queens
Astoria Park – Astoria
Where: 19th Street and 23rd Drive
Astoria Park’s pool is the largest in the city and is a whopping 330 feet in length. The wading area for little kids is actually not a separate pool, but a section that is roped off so that the little ones can be in the same pool as everyone else while remaining safe!
Fisher Pool – East Elmhurst
Where: 99th Street at 32nd Avenue
Enjoy the water while you admire the adorable penguin mural at this pool in East Elmhurst!
Fort Totten Pool – Fort Totten
Where: 338 Story Avenue
Splash in Fort Totten Park’s three pools while enjoying views of the scenic and historic park that surrounds them.
Liberty Pool – Jamaica
Where: 173rd Street at 106th Avenue
Located in the Detective Keith L. Williams Park, this pool is somewhat small in comparison to the rest on this list, but also has a nice, relaxing wading pool. This pool is also one of the city’s “cool pools,” so it gets plenty of shade provided by the umbrellas surrounding it.
Brooklyn
Sunset Park – Sunset Park
Where: 7th Avenue between 41st and 44th Street
The park is home to an Olympic-size pool from which you can enjoy views of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and the harbor!
Betsy Head Park – Brownsville
Where: Boyland Street between Livonia and Dumont Avenue
This Brownsville-based pool is located in the park, which has gone through various renovations, including a new playground overhaul. The pool is Olympic-size and has a maximum depth of 4 feet.
Kosciuszko Pool – Bed-Stuy
Where: Marcy Avenue between DeKalb Avenue and Kosciuszko Street
Head over to Bed-Stuy for a dip in this Olympic-size pool, which is also accompanied by a wading pool and is often praised for its cleanliness!
McCarren Park Pool – Border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint
Where: Lorimer St & Driggs Ave
Head to this very popular and beloved Olympic-sized pool at McCarren Park for plenty of room to splash and swim. If the kids are tired of the pool, head to the turtle park next door and cool off at the sprinklers.
Bronx
The Floating Pool — Barretto Point Park
Where: Tiffany Street & Viele Avenue
“The Floating Pool Lady” in Barretto Point Park is a must-have on your summer bucket list. This seven-lane pool sits atop a movable barge in the East River, offering a waterfront view that will delight even the youngest of swimmers. Children can splash in the sprinklers or dry off with a picnic on the lawn area surrounding the pool.
Crotona Pool – Crotona
Where: E. 173rd Street and Fulton Avenue
In Crotona, this park houses both an Olympic-size pool and an awesome sprayground right on the deck for the kids to enjoy if they’re not quite ready for the big pool!
Mullaly Park – Morrisania
Where: E. 164th Street between Jerome and River Avenue
Mullaly Park in Morrisania, South Bronx, has a medium-sized pool and a wading pool. Spend the day enjoying the park, which boasts a playground, sprinklers, greenery, and a skate park!
Haffen Park – Baychester
Where: Burke Avenue at Ely Avenue
The park, based in Baychester, has a medium-sized pool and a wading pool in a separate area.
Staten Island
Lyons Pool – Westerleigh
Where: Pier 6 and Victory Boulevard
This large pool is located in Westerleigh near the Staten Island Railway, buses and Staten Island Ferry terminal, making it accessible for commuters from other boroughs.
Tottenville Pool – Tottenville
Where: Hylan Boulevard and Joline Avenue
Tottenville has both an intermediate-sized main pool and a wading pool. When you’re done splashing, visit the nearby playground while you dry off. This is another one of the few pools that have “cool pool treatment,” so it’s perfect for those who are not the biggest fans of the blazing sun!
Psst… Check Out School’s Out! Fun Things to Do in NYC with Kids This Summer
