Where the concierge points people first
- Astoria Pool — The city's largest outdoor pool, built in 1936 in Astoria Park with the Hell Gate and Triborough bridges overhead. It hosted Olympic swimming trials; go on a weekday morning to have room to swim. (40.7789, -73.9226)
- McCarren Park Pool — In Williamsburg, a huge 1930s pool that sat empty for decades and reopened in 2012. Summer weekends are crowded; weekday mornings are when you can actually swim. (40.7201, -73.9493)
- Highbridge Pool — In Washington Heights beside the old High Bridge water tower, another 1936 pool with a view out over the Harlem River. Quieter than the downtown and Brooklyn pools. (40.8424, -73.9334)
- Thomas Jefferson Pool — In East Harlem, a large 1930s pool that is the obvious choice if you are staying on the Upper East Side or in Harlem. (40.7932, -73.9363)
- Tompkins Square Mini Pool — A shallow mini pool in the East Village park, meant for small children rather than lap swimming. Useful with toddlers on a hot afternoon. (40.7269, -73.9810)
The rest of the public pools in New York — every one we hold
- 1 North 4th Place Rooftop and Pool (40.7199, -73.9650)
- Battery Park Swim & Fitness (40.7112, -74.0171)
- Betsy Head Pool (40.6630, -73.9125)
- Camp Olympia (40.6690, -73.9781)
- Carey Gabay Recreation Center (40.6687, -73.9551)
- Chelsea Piers Sports Center Pool (40.7450, -74.0077)
- Douglass and DeGraw Pool (40.6806, -73.9858)
- Galaxy Towers Pools (40.7905, -73.9995)
- Gottesman Pool (40.7963, -73.9546)
- Highbridge Park Pool (40.8491, -73.9368)
- Horizon House Pool Club (40.8406, -73.9731)
- Howard Pool (40.6729, -73.9089)
- Imagine Swimming - Leman Prep (40.7057, -74.0149)
- Jackie Robinson Pool (40.8243, -73.9425)
- John B. Davis Municipal Pool (40.8516, -74.0173)
- John Jay Pool (40.7696, -73.9488)
- Kosciuszko Pool (40.6913, -73.9491)
- Leonia Swim Club (40.8575, -73.9979)
- Marcus Garvey Park Pool (40.8076, -73.9489)
- Marcus Garvey Pool (40.8052, -73.9433)
- Marcus Garvey Pool (40.8105, -73.9528)
- Metropolitan Swimming Pool (40.7150, -73.9604)
- Morningside Heights (40.8128, -73.9613)
- North Bergen Pool (40.8148, -74.0174)
- Palisades Park Swim Club (40.8476, -74.0088)
- Palisades Park Swim Club (40.8508, -74.0053)
- Palisades Park Swimming Pool (40.8481, -73.9982)
- Penguin City Swim (40.7779, -73.9513)
- Piscina De Don Jorge (40.8511, -74.0252)
- Ridgefield Park Town Pool (40.8517, -74.0169)
- Ridgefield Pool (40.8341, -74.0090)
- Ridgefield Pool (40.8317, -73.9986)
- Ronald Dario Swimming pool (40.7800, -74.0202)
- Roosevelt Island Marlins Swim Team (40.7561, -73.9543)
- Seahorse Fitness (40.7174, -73.9804)
- Sheltering Arms Pool (40.8147, -73.9556)
- St. Mary's Park (40.8117, -73.9120)
- Stevens Pool (40.7444, -74.0258)
- Stuyvesant High School Swimming Pool (40.7180, -74.0139)
- Swimming pool (40.7843, -74.0077)
- Swimming pool (40.8052, -73.9436)
- Swimming Pool Zirakpur (40.7167, -74.0000)
- The Pool (40.7208, -73.9558)
- The Pool (40.8522, -73.9660)
- Trinity Swim Club (40.7901, -73.9701)
- Uris Pool - Columbia University (40.8093, -73.9617)
- USA Pools of Massachusetts (40.7648, -73.9143)
- Van Cortlandt Pool (40.7131, -74.0072)
- Vesuvio Park Pool (40.7262, -74.0022)
The city's outdoor pools are free, and strict
New York City's outdoor Parks pools are free and need no membership, but they only open for the summer — the 2026 season started on 27 June and runs to around Labor Day in early September. Bring a padlock for the locker and a towel, and expect the posted rules at the gate on clothing, electronics and food to be enforced by the lifeguards. Most outdoor pools close for an hour in the mid-afternoon for cleaning. The indoor pools in Parks recreation centers are different: they run year round but need a paid Parks membership.
Questions people ask
What are the best public pools in New York?
Astoria Pool for size and views, McCarren Park Pool in Williamsburg, Highbridge Pool in Washington Heights and Thomas Jefferson Pool in East Harlem. All are free in summer.
Are New York public pools free?
Yes, the outdoor NYC Parks pools are free during their summer season, with no membership needed. The indoor pools in recreation centers need a paid Parks membership.
How many public pools are there in New York?
Num's directory maps 54 swimming pools in and around New York, including city pools, school and club pools, and municipal pools across the river in New Jersey.
Ask Num which public pool is open near you in New York
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