Sun Sep 15 17:01:35 UTC 2024: ## Queens Gets Its First Public Pool, Part of $46.1 Million State Investment in Swimming

**New York City, NY** – Queens residents will soon have a much-needed refuge from the summer heat, as the borough is set to receive its first public pool, the Arverne East Aquatic Center. This $10 million project, part of the statewide NY SWIMS initiative, is a key component of a $46.1 million investment to increase swimming access across New York City.

The new indoor and outdoor pool, located in the Far Rockaway neighborhoods of Arverne and Edgemere, will offer a clean and safe environment for children to learn how to swim. Many residents, including those living near the ocean, have expressed the need for a reliable swimming facility due to the unpredictable nature of beach weather and the presence of dangerous undercurrents.

The investment in Queens is part of a larger effort to address the alarming lack of access to public pools in New York City. According to NYC Council figures, over half of New Yorkers live more than a 15-minute walk from a public pool. The closest public pool to Far Rockaway is nearly 10 miles away, making the new Arverne East Aquatic Center a welcome addition.

This project also addresses the alarming rise in drowning deaths in New York City. This summer alone, four people drowned on the Rockaway Peninsula, where Arverne is located. Six of the seven drowning deaths in NYC this year occurred more than 15 minutes away from a public swimming facility, highlighting the need for greater accessibility to safe swimming environments.

The new Arverne East Aquatic Center is just one of five projects currently underway as part of the NY SWIMS initiative. Four existing pools are being revamped, including the complete reconstruction of Van Cortlandt Pool in the Bronx, a renovation of the Hansborough Rec Center and Hamilton Fish Recreation Center in Manhattan, and the reconstruction and expansion of the Tompkins Square Park mini-pool in Manhattan.

The initiative, a collaboration between the state and Mayor Eric Adams’ Let’s Swim NYC program, underscores the importance of public pools for community cohesion, water safety education, and providing a respite from the summer heat.

Read More