Gov. Kathy Hochul is trying to end the week with a splash — proposing a multi-million dollar investment aimed at expanding swimming access statewide.
City dwellers may soon have access to a filtered, floating pool in the waters surrounding Manhattan.
What You Need To Know
- Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State proposal includes a $60 million grant program available to municipalities seeking to make capital investments to existing pools or put towards building new ones
- The proposal includes more funding for other state-run locations like Harriman State Park’s Lake Sebago Beach, Jones Beach East Bathhouse and Sojourner Truth State Park
- An increase in lifeguard staffing and swim instruction is also included
“Mayor Adams and I are joining forces to advance a long stalled, much debated, but it’s an innovative floating pool concept right over there. It’s called +Pool and allows New Yorkers to swim in clean, filtered water right under the city skyline,” said Hochul at the Children’s Aid – Dunlevy Milbank Community Center in Harlem Friday.
Although the city approved plans for its construction just off the Lower East Side, funding has been an issue.
But now, if Hochul gets her way, a pilot program could open as soon as this summer.
The state would spend $12 million to City Hall’s $4 million, as part of a greater statewide bid to boost swimming access.
“This year we’ll announce a $60 million capital grant program to fund ten new landmark swimming pools in underserved communities. We’re going to make that commitment right now,” she said.
Rising temperatures during summer and fall months have put more of a strain on the city’s nearly 100 public polls run by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Mayor Eric Adams said investment is a priority.
“It’s a survival mechanism! New York City is surrounded by water, folks! And our young people are not being taught how to swim,” he declared.
But since the pandemic, city-run beaches and pools have been plagued by lifeguard shortages.
Forcing swim program cancellations, shorter hours of operation or leaving beaches unguarded altogether.
“Not only must we open the pools, but we also must build up the pipeline for the next generations of lifeguards, which we have a shortage of,” said Adams.
Swimming instruction classes might also end up on the chopping block amidst anticipated citywide budget cuts.
The state also faces multi-billion dollar budget gaps in the coming years.
But the governor justified the anticipated expense.
“I’ll tell ya what, if I can save lives, teaching kids to swim, the number one cause of death for 0 to 5, the number two cause of death ages 5 to 14, I’m gonna save lives,” she said.
This proposal also comes out of a concern that state officials have over a rising number of drawings between 2017 and 2021 — around 1000 deaths were recorded between kids aged 5 through 14.