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Rise and shine, swimmers: Adult lap swim is finally back in New York, and it’s ready to make waves. After a five-year, pandemic-induced pause, the city’s beloved early morning swim program is resurfacing at public pools starting July 7. But before you grab your goggles and cap, there’s a small catch: It’s only happening at five locations across the five boroughs.
From 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, adult swimmers can take to the lanes at Van Cortlandt Pool (Bronx), Kosciuszko Pool (Brooklyn), Hamilton Fish Park Pool (Manhattan), Astoria Pool (Queens) and Lyons Pool (Staten Island). The program—once a summertime ritual for fitness junkies, retirees and early birds alike—had been suspended since 2020, citing staffing shortages. This summer marks its splashy return.
“This is a very important community program,” said Emily Chase, assistant commissioner for public programs at NYC Parks, at a kickoff event Thursday. “It’s a great place to meet people and be part of an amazing, diverse New York City community.”
Before the pandemic, lap swim was offered citywide with “Early Bird” and “Night Owl” sessions. Now, it’s back, but still in a limited lane due to a lack of lifeguards. Though the city now boasts 680 certified guards—10% more than last year—it’s still less than half of the 1,400 employed in 2019. Certification continues through July, so officials are hopeful more pools may dive in later this summer.
Still, the revival is making a splash with locals. Swimmers can register for free right at the pool and even join the city’s swim challenge. If you clock 15 miles or more this summer, you’ll score a commemorative tee.
The lap swim revival is just one part of the Parks Department’s broader summer rollout, which also includes expanded Learn to Swim programs and the unveiling of the brand-new Gottesman Pool at Central Park’s north end, a $160 million facility replacing the outdated Lasker Rink and Pool. The space can accommodate 1,000-plus swimmers in the summer and transforms into a turf field and skating rink in the fall and winter.
All city pools will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sept. 7. So go ahead—set that alarm, skip the snooze and dive back in. The lanes are calling.