July 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Queens residents will be able to cool off with a dip in the pool this summer as the city plans to reopen three public pools in the borough within the next month.
Liberty Pool in Jamaica, Astoria Pool in Astoria and Fisher Pool in East Elmhurst will reopen incoming weeks, along with 12 others across the five boroughs, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today.
Liberty pool will be the one of the first to open to the public on July 24, while Astoria Pool and Fisher Pool will open on August 1.
The city chose the pools that would have the maximum benefit to communities hit hardest by the coronavirus. The city also selected pools in neighborhoods farthest from beaches as well as the largest pools, de Blasio said.
“We had to make some choices, but I think these 15 pools are going to make a big, big difference for people in communities all over New York City,” de Blasio said. The city has 53 public pools.
He said the public pools will help city kids, in particular, have a better summer.
The mayor said pool-goers must wear face coverings when not in the water and practice social distancing.
New York City beaches also reopened for swimming today with lifeguards on duty.