By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Children and parents seeking relief from the heat flooded Highbridge Pool Tuesday as New York City’s public pools opened just in time for summer’s first major heat wave.
Kids splashed, jumped and soaked up the sun at the public Olympic-sized adult and wading pools located on Amsterdam Avenue and West 173rd Street, one of the city’s 54 pool locations.
The Batista family has long taken refuge from the city heat at the Washington Heights pool. Parents Stephanie and Lazaro, both 21, said they have been bringing their four-year-old son Lazaro to the pool every summer since he was born. They were excited to introduce six-month-old son Jacob to the water.
“I love coming to the pool because it entertains my kids and we get to spend quality time. I can show them that it’s not just about me working, but about quality time,” said Stephanie, who works as a security guard at an office building.
Some parents visiting the pool for the first time found navigating the pool rules a challenge — specifically the rules regarding food and drink for children.
At least two families were turned away because they had packed bananas and drinks for their children, although management did tell them they were allowed to bring milk and baby food in jars.
A parks official said that outside food cannot be brought onto the pool deck or locker room area, and that the designated eating area — located underneath the trees on the south side of the pool — is only for the free lunch program.
Food or no food, for 10-year-old Heleni Trikas, coming to the pool with her mother Donika, 46, was an attempt to mark the beginning of a memorable season.
“I was hot and bored,” she said, “and I wanted to find a way to start a fun day and summer.”
