Another +Pool Update: Floating Pool Pilot to be Installed This Summer Near Pier 36

Here we are again with the exact same rendering we started off with 2 years ago. Big updates though.

Seems like now the community’s got a concrete timeline:

• Summer 2026: “Pilot pool” opens to the public with limited capacity

• Summer 2027: Final pool facility opens to the public with full capacity (if trial goes according to plan)

At least that’s what +Pool organizers stated at the Parks Committee update for CB3 on March 12th.

They provided plenty of detail for this summer’s trial and revealed how serious they are on their promise to return the river to city residents.

To be clear, the pool water won’t be like the water at Hamilton Fish. The water you’ll be swimming in will be a faithful representation of the exact type of water found just underneath the pool on the East River. This means that the water will be cold, non-potable, and brackish. Yes, that means that the pool will be a mix of salt and fresh water.

There won’t be any chlorine either. The water here is entirely mechanically filtered, rather than chemically filtered, meaning that their cleansing techniques will mirror those of the ocean more than those of your typical backyard pool. A series of filters less than 2 millimeters wide are employed to filter out larger solids that may find their way into the system. And yes, +Pool’s tests have so far shown that mechanical filtration is as effective or more than chemical filtering.

Slide from +Pool’s presentation.

Attendees had some questions about the pool’s operations, both in the trial and final versions. Organizers answered that the aim was to have the final pool open for 6-month period every year. Lifeguards would be staffed with +Pool employees instead of NYC lifeguards and admission to the trial pool would be limited to approximately 30 swimmers, who must likely book a two-hour slot through a reservation system. Eventually, operators would also be open to discussing “community hours” that would grant preference to neighborhood residents.

Thanks for reading! Will keep you updated as the summer nears.