Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

City's Public Outdoor Pools Open Wednesday

By Nicholas Rizzi | June 28, 2016 3:44pm
 Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver kicked off the summer pool season on Tuesday.
City's Public Outdoor Pools Officially Open Wednesday
View Full Caption

PORT RICHMOND — The city's 55 outdoor public pools will open for the summer Wednesday — and this year they'll be welcoming swimmers for longer.

Parks Department Commissioner Mitchell Silver kicked off the season by taking a dip at Faber Pool, on Richmond Terrace, Tuesday.

"It looks like a country club," Silver said about the facility.

"It's is absolutely outstanding when I look at how well staff maintains this beautiful park facility."

Aside from opening up the pools, Silver announced that Faber Park was selected as one of eight in the Parks Without Borders capital program and will get an additional $5 million to renovate its entrance and borders.

"A lot of people don't know what stands behind that beautiful wrought iron fence, it really is a gem that's located here," Councilwoman Debi Rose said.

"I look forward to seeing this new investment take shape in the coming months and years."

The city's public pools will be open every day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. until Sept. 11, Silver said. Aside from swimming, it also hosts free programs including lessons and senior swim classes.

Silver also highlighted the mayor's $50 million plan to build a public indoor pool on Staten Island. He said Parks has located several potential sites and will be meeting with community members in the future to finalize a location.

"We realized that Staten Island is the only borough that does not have an indoor pool," Silver said. 

"The mayor thought that was an injustice so he dedicated $50 million to find and build a site for an indoor pool."