Mayor Adams, Gov Hochul unveil innovative floating pool at Pier 35

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have announced the development of a state-of-the-art floating swimming pool, to be located at Pier 35 near Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

This collaborative project between the city and state is a significant step towards transforming New York City’s waterways into accessible and safe swimming spots for all residents.

The innovative pool, known as + POOL, is designed to float in the city’s waters while employing a unique filtration system to ensure clean and safe swimming conditions.

The project will kick off with a water filtration demonstration at Pier 35 starting this August, aimed at testing the feasibility and safety of the floating pool concept.

This initiative is part of the broader NY SWIMS program, which marks the largest statewide investment in swimming infrastructure since the New Deal.

“New York City’s waterways are some of our most important assets.

By exploring the possibility of a + POOL, we are not only building on our historic investments in public pools across the city but also expanding equitable access to swimming for all New Yorkers, especially our children,” said Mayor Adams.

“Our administration is committed to providing New Yorkers with additional ways to stay cool and safe as climate change makes heat waves more common.”

Governor Hochul echoed emphasized the project’s potential to provide safe swimming spaces while teaching essential water safety skills.

“Through innovative solutions like + POOL, we are providing children and their families with safe spaces to swim in New York City,” said Hochul.

Kara Meyer, managing director of + POOL, praised the interagency and community efforts that have brought the project to life. “It demonstrates New York at its best –– when the people are working together to advocate for change, evolve systems, design solutions, test concepts, and build innovations. It’s what makes New York, New York,” she stated.

The filtration demonstration project will be followed by a pilot of the pool for final testing in 2025. This comprehensive testing phase will evaluate water quality and ensure compliance with health and safety standards set by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the New York State Department of Health.

Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams Isom and Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi highlighted the importance of public infrastructure in addressing climate change and ensuring equitable access to recreational facilities.

“We are grateful to our partners at + POOL and at the state. We will continue to carry out this project with an equity and environmental focus to work towards expanding swimming access, and to do so thoughtfully for years to come,” said Isom.

The + POOL project builds on a more than $1 billion capital investment by the Adams administration to enhance New York City’s public pools over the next five years. This historic investment aims to expand safe water access throughout the five boroughs, promoting public safety and helping more New Yorkers learn life-saving water safety skills. The city plans to build two new indoor pools and fully renovate three additional pools. Notably, a new $147 million recreation center with an indoor pool is being constructed at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, and a $141 million indoor pool at the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Brooklyn.

In addition to these projects, the city is addressing a nationwide lifeguard shortage to ensure that as many pools and beaches as possible are open for safe swimming this summer. Recent agreements and arbitration awards have paved the way for hiring more lifeguards, increasing swimming capacity, and improving the city’s lifeguard program operations.

This summer, New Yorkers can enjoy upgraded outdoor public pools across all five boroughs, including the newly reconstructed Astoria Pool in Queens and the fully renovated mini-pool at Edenwald Playground in the Bronx. Other improvements include new colorful concrete pool decks, plantings for shade, benches, fencing, and ADA ramps at various locations, ensuring that these free public amenities continue to serve generations to come.

As New York City continues to innovate and invest in public recreational facilities, the + POOL project at Pier 35 stands out as a beacon of progress and community collaboration, promising a safer, cooler, and more inclusive summer for all New Yorkers.