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13 of NYC’s best public pools: Cool off in all five boroughs

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nyc best pools – Asser Levy/kjb
At 120 feet long, the pool at the Asser Levy Rec Center offers a lot of space to stretch out and get your laps in — if you get there early. It’s typically a clean pool with warm water and on hot days, it can become a bit crowded. The Rec Center also has an indoor pool that you can take advantage of as well. Pictured, Jayden Martinez, 7, of Brooklyn, jumps into the pool. (390 Asser Levy Pl.) Photo Credit: Vincent Barone
  • At 75 feet long, Fisher Pool is on the smaller side, but it is a favorite among locals because it's quiet compared to bigger pools in Astoria and Manhattan. In 2018, it was refurbished with new wall art, lounge chairs, and plantings as part of the NYC Parks Cool Pools initiative. (99th Street and 32nd Avenue)
    Photo Credit: NYC Parks
  • Sunset Park's pool is a whopping 259 feet long, offering a much-needed respite from the crowded Brooklyn streets. Bring your combination lock and arrive early to avoid crowds. (4201 Seventh Ave.)
    Photo Credit: NYC Parks
  • One of the largest pools in the city at 330 feet long, the Red Hook Pool is an Olympic-sized pool that was built in the 1930s under Robert Moses as part of a larger rec center. When it was opened in 1936, 40,000 people attended the opening. It was refurbished in the 1980s and remains one of the cleaner and most quiet pools in Brooklyn. (Bay and Henry streets)
    Photo Credit: Photo by Daniel Avila/NYC Dept. /Daniel Avila
  • This medium-sized pool (at 75 feet long) is beloved for its cool and clean water and space for kids in an adjacent wading pool. It was also upgraded in 2018 as part of the NYC Parks Cool Pools initiative. (Third Avenue and Nevins Street)
    Photo Credit: NYC Parks
  • At 120 feet long, the pool at the Asser Levy Rec Center offers a lot of space to stretch out and get your laps in -- if you get there early. It's typically a clean pool with warm water and on hot days, it can become a bit crowded. The Rec Center also has an indoor pool that you can take advantage of as well. Pictured, Jayden Martinez, 7, of Brooklyn, jumps into the pool. (390 Asser Levy Pl.)
    Photo Credit: Vincent Barone
  • At 240 feet long, Central Park's own circular, Olympic-sized pool offers a nice oasis to swim in as it is surrounded by greenery. Make sure to arrive early if you want more of the pool to yourself. There's also a wading pool for kids. (Central Park, between 106th and 108th streets)
    Photo Credit: NYC Parks
  • Mapes Ballfield has a spacious pool at 75 feet in length and also has a wading pool for the kiddies. It was recently re-painted with an ice cream/summer/beach theme and has chairs and tables available. Pictured, NYC Parks Citywide Aquatics instructor Jeabenjamin Gonzales of East Harlem teaches Leilani Lucre-Valentin, 6, and Skhye Gant, 6, both of the Bronx, how to make bubbles underwater. (East 180th Street, between Mapes and Prospect avenues in East Tremont)
    Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon
  • Within Mullaly Park, directly behind Yankee Stadium, this mid-size pool is a low-key spot with friendly staff, a wading pool, and an attached community center. (East 164th Street, between Jerome and River avenues)
    Photo Credit: Photo by Daniel Avila/NYC Dept. /Daniel Avila

When the city gets oppressively hot, sometimes the only thing that can cool you down is a dip in a pool.

There are more than 50 pools across the five boroughs, but not all are created equal. To help cool you off as the mercury rises — and rises — we’ve highlighted 13 of the most refreshing and interesting city pools.

All pools will be open daily through Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a break for cleaning between 3 and 4 p.m. Enjoy extended pool hours until 8 p.m. this weekend during the heat advisory, when temperatures are expected to reach into the triple digits.

Make sure you read the rules at nycgovparks.org before you go so your visit goes smoothly.

And in case you want to swim with a view (and a cold beverage), check out our rooftop pool guide, too.

Scroll down to take a virtual dip in our favorite public pools before they open for the season.

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