By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN — Dumpster diving came to Park Avenue Saturday.
Hundreds lined up for the chance to beat the city heat - by plunging into makeshift swimming pools right in the heart of Midtown.
The "pools" - which really are dumpsters filled with water - are part of Summer Streets, a city initiative to get New Yorkers outside during the summer months.
Dumpster users could also relax in hammocks and lounge chairs on an avenue usually bumper-to-bumper with yellow cabs.
For the first three Saturdays of this month, the pools can be found at a section of Park Avenue that's been closed to traffic near 40th Street.
Jennifer Conejos and her son Matthew waited in line for over an hour to get into the rest stop itself. Once inside, they had another hour's wait to get to go swimming.
But for Matthew, who giggled happily underneath his towel, it was well worth the time spent in line.
“He had a lot of fun,” said Conejos, who said she would return next week — but be in line much earlier.
Crunch fitness donated lifeguards who kept a careful eye on swimmers throughout the morning.
While the pools were mostly filled with children, adults seemed equally blissful making a summer splash.
Ben Clare, 26, was lounging on a green bean bag chair with two friends on the concrete outside of the pool area.
“I wish we could do this everyday,” he said, lying back blissfully.
Bernalda Pesim, a 40-year-old Harlem resident came with her two children and two nephews, but were too late to get to go to the swimming pool.
“Next Saturday we’re going to be here at 7,” she said.
