Free Outdoor Public Pools

In the end of August a bunch of friends and I are heading out to Mal Pais, Costa Rica to learn how to surf. In the interim, I decided it might be a good idea to start preparing by doing some swimming to supplement my dry land training. So I started looking up free outdoor public pools in and around the city that were easy to get to (via subway, bus, and/or walking). So far these are the ones I've hit this summer and highly recommend! More pool reviews to come as I visit them this summer! Don't forget these outdoor pools are only open in the summer and typically close on Labor Day (the first Monday of September).

* The Floating Pool Lady, AKA: The Barge Pool
http://www.floatingpool.org/
Location: 334 Furman Street (at Joralemon Street, 2 blocks North of Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn)
Contact: 718.222.9742 (as of summer 2007)
Pool: L82' x W52' x D4'
My Thoughts: A beautiful pool built into a floating barge with an amazing view of lower Manhattan! I can totally see them using this for parties or fancy events in the future... maybe even a really cool barge pool wedding. Off of the barge, the parks department has created two sandy beaches for people to layout or play some volleyball or soccer while not swimming on the barge. Since there is limited space on the barge, there are designated 90 minute swim times throughout the day... you have to wait in line for a wrist band before each of the swim times while the previous group clears the barge, the only downside of this unique pool. Once the previous group is clear, they let on the new group and that's pretty much how the day goes. There is a dedicated roped off lane for lap swimming, remember your lap swimming etiquette. This pool is super clean, so don't let the fact that it's on a barge throw you off. Like most pools there are shower facilities and lockers for your stuff on the barge so don't forget to bring your own lock! Tip: the last swim session of the day is 15 minutes longer than the others! And of course, the later it gets the larger the crowds... so get there early! Also since the pool is on/a barge, the plan is that they will move it to a new location every summer, so go have a dip before it literally floats away! In the winter it will migrate south to warmer climates... possibly Miami this coming winter!

* The Asser Levy Recreation Center, Pool and Playground
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/recreation_centers/view_recreation_center.php?ID=M164#general
Location: 501 Asser Levy Place (at 23rd Street 1 block East of 1st Avenue in Manhattan)
Contact: 212.447.2020
Pool: L120' x W45' x D4'
My Thoughts: Wow, this pool is great... as in great and HUGE! It's a whopping 120 feet long and that's just the main pool! There is a smaller wading pool for the kiddies adjacent. I just went today thinking it would be pretty crowded seeing as it was so hot and humid outside today. Surprisingly it really wasn't, probably because of it's slightly out of the way location. The pool is a part of the public recreation center so there are showers and lockers inside, don't forget your locks! There is usually a dedicated roped off lap swimming lane, but if it's not being utilized the lifeguards will pull in the rope and open the entire pool for general swim. Tip: The pool is cleaned every day (when open) from 3pm to 4pm so coming right after is a good bet since the morning/early afternoon crowd will have cleared out and you'll have a freshly cleaned pool to splash in!