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NYC Opens 51 of 53 Outdoor Public Pools for Summer 2026

Reopening restores lap swim, brings Learn to Swim back, preserves free summer cooling, leaves two pools closed for reconstruction, keeps NYPD staffing rules shaping on‑time openings.

Overview

  • The citywide outdoor pool season officially opened on Saturday with 51 of the system’s 53 pools available for public swim.
  • Pools operate daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a mandatory 3–4 p.m. cleaning break and extended hours to 8 p.m. during declared heat emergencies.
  • Parks restored popular programs this year, including limited lap swim and free Learn to Swim classes that began registration in mid‑June.
  • Two sites remain closed for reconstruction — Haffen Pool in the Bronx and Tony Dapolito in Manhattan — while signature facilities such as Olympic‑sized complexes and the Floating Pool Barge are open.
  • A long‑standing policy requires NYPD officers at pool openings, and city data showing 214 late‑arrival shifts last summer is disputed by the NYPD but continues to be cited as a cause of lost swim time and crowding, so patrons are advised to check NotifyNYC for intermittent closures and timed‑entry wristbands.