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
Top Parks and Pools in Manhattan
Gottesman Pool – Central Park North / Harlem
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/central-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/gottesman-pool-at-the-davis-center
Address: 110th Street & Lenox Avenue (Harlem Meer)
Abe Lincoln Pool – East Harlem
Abe Lincoln Pool is one of those NYC parks where kids can splash around and families can enjoy a fun day together. 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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/abraham-lincoln-playground/facilities/outdoor-pools/abe-lincoln-pool
Address: E 135th St. and 5th Ave.
Asser Levy Pool – Kips Bay
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/asser-levy-recreation-center-pool-and-playground/facilities/outdoor-pools/asser-levy-pool
Address: E. 23rd St. and Asser Levy Place
Dry Dock Pool — East Village
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/dry-dock-playground-and-pool/facilities/outdoor-pools/dry-dock-pool
Address: E. 10th St. between Aves. C and D
Frederick Douglass Pool – Upper West Side
Frederick Douglass Pool is a peaceful place in NYC where families can spend a slow, relaxing day without worrying about big crowds. 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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/frederick-douglass-playground/facilities/outdoor-pools/frederick-douglass-pool
Address: Amsterdam Ave between 100th and 102nd St.
Hamilton Fish Park – East Village
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/hamilton-fish-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/hamilton-fish-pool
Address: Pitt Street and E. Houston Street
Highbridge Pool – Washington Heights
Highbridge Pool is one of the most popular New York public pools, with an Olympic-size pool for serious swimmers and a wading area for little ones to play safely. 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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/highbridge-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/highbridge-pool
Address: Amsterdam Ave and W 173rd St.
Jackie Robinson Park – Harlem
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!
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/jackie-robinson-park_manhattan/facilities/outdoor-pools/jackie-robinson-pool
Address: 145th Street at Bradhurst Avenue
John Jay Pool — Upper East Park
John Jay Pool is one of the most scenic NYC parks and pools, with a big swimming area where families can enjoy laps or spend a fun and easy day together. 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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/john-jay-park-and-pool/facilities/outdoor-pools/john-jay-pool
Address: East of York Avenue on 77th St.
Marcus Garvey Park – Harlem
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/marcus-garvey-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/marcus-garvey-pool
Address: 124th Street at Fifth Avenue
Sheltering Arms Pool – West Harlem
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/sheltering-arms-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/sheltering-arms-pool
Address: W. 129th St. and Amsterdam Ave.
Thomas Jefferson Pool – East Harlem
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!
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/thomas-jefferson-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/thomas-jefferson-pool
Address: E. 112th St and First Ave.
Vesuvio Pool – South Village
Vesuivo Playground is one of the few greenspaces in the South Village, complete with a three-foot mini pool, sandboxes, spray showers and more.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/vesuvio-playground/facilities/outdoor-pools/vesuvio-pool
Address: Thompson St. between Spring & Prince St.
Wagner Pool – East Harlem
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/wagner-houses-pool/facilities/outdoor-pools/wagner-pool
Address: E. 124th Street between First and Second Avenue
Top Parks and Pools in Queens
Astoria Park – Astoria
Astoria Park is one of the most popular New York public pools for families, with plenty of space for everyone to swim, play, and enjoy the day together. 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!
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/astoria-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/astoria-pool
Address: 19th Street and 23rd Drive
Fisher Pool – East Elmhurst
Fisher Pool is one of the friendliest NYC public pools and parks, where families can swim, enjoy the colorful mural, and spend a relaxed summer day together. Enjoy the water while you admire the adorable penguin mural at this pool in East Elmhurst!
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/fisher-pool/facilities/outdoor-pools/fisher-pool
Address: 99th Street at 32nd Avenue
Fort Totten Pool – Fort Totten
Splash in Fort Totten Park’s three pools while enjoying views of the scenic and historic park that surrounds them.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/fort-totten-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/fort-totten-pool
Address: 338 Story Avenue
Liberty Pool – Jamaica
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/detective-keith-l-williams-park-liberty-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/liberty-pool
Address: 173rd Street at 106th Avenue
Top Parks and Pools in Brooklyn
Sunset Park – Sunset Park
Sunset Park is one of the most scenic examples of NYC parks with pools, offering an Olympic-size pool where families can swim while enjoying views of the city skyline. 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!
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/sunset-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/sunset-park-pool
Address: 7th Avenue between 41st and 44th Street
Betsy Head Park – Brownsville
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/betsy-head-memorial-playground/facilities/outdoor-pools/betsy-head-pool
Address: Boyland Street between Livonia and Dumont Avenue
Kosciuszko Pool – Bed-Stuy
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!
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/kosciuszko-pool/facilities/outdoor-pools/kosciuszko-pool
Address: Marcy Avenue between DeKalb Avenue and Kosciuszko Street
McCarren Park Pool – Border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/mccarren-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/mccarren-park-pool
Address: Lorimer St & Driggs Ave
Top Parks and Pools in the Bronx
The Floating Pool — Barretto Point Park
“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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/X307/facilities/outdoor-pools/floating-pool
Address: Tiffany Street & Viele Avenue
Crotona Pool – Crotona
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!
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/crotona-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/crotona-pool
Address: E. 173rd Street and Fulton Avenue
Mullaly Park – Morrisania
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!
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/mullaly-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/mullaly-pool
Address: E. 164th Street between Jerome and River Avenue
Haffen Park – Baychester
The park, based in Baychester, has a medium-sized pool and a wading pool in a separate area.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/haffen-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/haffen-pool
Address: Burke Avenue at Ely Avenue
Top Parks and Pools in Staten Island
Lyons Pool – Westerleigh
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.
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/lyons-pool/facilities/outdoor-pools/lyons-pool
Address: Pier 6 and Victory Boulevard
Tottenville Pool – Tottenville
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!
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/tottenville-pool/facilities/outdoor-pools/tottenville-pool
Address: Hylan Boulevard and Joline Avenue
Psst… Check Out School’s Out! Fun Things to Do in NYC with Kids This Summer
