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| ‘I Missed You, Pool’: Children Rejoice as N.Y.C. Public Pools Finally Open | ‘I Missed You, Pool’: Children Rejoice as N.Y.C. Public Pools Finally Open |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Watching the heavy rain from inside her car, Barbara Young considered going back home. Ms. Young, 52, had arrived at Fisher Pool in East Elmhurst, Queens, at 9:30 a.m. — an hour and a half before the pool had been scheduled to reopen for the summer — just to be one of the first people inside. The downpour looked ominous. | Watching the heavy rain from inside her car, Barbara Young considered going back home. Ms. Young, 52, had arrived at Fisher Pool in East Elmhurst, Queens, at 9:30 a.m. — an hour and a half before the pool had been scheduled to reopen for the summer — just to be one of the first people inside. The downpour looked ominous. |
| But Ms. Young decided to sit tight. Fifteen minutes before the scheduled reopening, the rain stopped. Soon, she and her goddaughter’s 7-year-old daughter were cooling off in the water. | |
| “I missed you, pool,” the girl said as she paddled. | |
| Despite the coronavirus pandemic and city budget cuts, eight outdoor pools across New York City’s five boroughs opened on Friday, and seven more were set to open next Saturday. | Despite the coronavirus pandemic and city budget cuts, eight outdoor pools across New York City’s five boroughs opened on Friday, and seven more were set to open next Saturday. |
| In Sunset Park, Brooklyn, a dozen people waited in line for Sunset Pool to open its doors at 11 a.m. The rain pushed it back to 1 p.m. | In Sunset Park, Brooklyn, a dozen people waited in line for Sunset Pool to open its doors at 11 a.m. The rain pushed it back to 1 p.m. |
| Christopher Lopez, 16, waited anxiously for more than four hours to swim with his two friends. | Christopher Lopez, 16, waited anxiously for more than four hours to swim with his two friends. |
| The first public pools in the city were built more than 80 years ago and had never missed a season since. But this year, it was a close call. | The first public pools in the city were built more than 80 years ago and had never missed a season since. But this year, it was a close call. |
| In April, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that outdoor public pools would stay closed for the summer in an effort to save money in the budget. In June, though, the mayor reversed that decision, providing nearly $10 million to the Department of Parks and Recreation to reinstate 15 of the 53 outdoor city pools. | In April, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that outdoor public pools would stay closed for the summer in an effort to save money in the budget. In June, though, the mayor reversed that decision, providing nearly $10 million to the Department of Parks and Recreation to reinstate 15 of the 53 outdoor city pools. |
| “This is going to be wonderful for neighborhood residents, particularly young people,” Mr. de Blasio said during a news conference on Thursday. “Especially as it’s gotten so hot.” | “This is going to be wonderful for neighborhood residents, particularly young people,” Mr. de Blasio said during a news conference on Thursday. “Especially as it’s gotten so hot.” |
| Pools now open are Mullaly Pool in the Bronx; Kosciuszko Pool and Sunset Pool in Brooklyn; Wagner Pool in Manhattan; Liberty Pool and Fisher Pool in Queens; Lyons Pool and Tottenville Pool in Staten Island. | Pools now open are Mullaly Pool in the Bronx; Kosciuszko Pool and Sunset Pool in Brooklyn; Wagner Pool in Manhattan; Liberty Pool and Fisher Pool in Queens; Lyons Pool and Tottenville Pool in Staten Island. |
| On August 1, the following pools will open: Crotona Pool and Haffen Pool in the Bronx; Betsy Head Pool in Brooklyn; Jackie Robinson Pool and Marcus Garvey Pool in Manhattan; Astoria Pool in Queens. | On August 1, the following pools will open: Crotona Pool and Haffen Pool in the Bronx; Betsy Head Pool in Brooklyn; Jackie Robinson Pool and Marcus Garvey Pool in Manhattan; Astoria Pool in Queens. |
| Public swimming pools are the latest in a series of outdoor activities that the city has greenlighted, giving a glimmer of bliss to what many New Yorkers expect will be a bleak summer. | Public swimming pools are the latest in a series of outdoor activities that the city has greenlighted, giving a glimmer of bliss to what many New Yorkers expect will be a bleak summer. |
| Playgrounds and beaches, closed earlier in the year because of the pandemic, were reopened several weeks ago. Basketball and tennis courts soon followed. | Playgrounds and beaches, closed earlier in the year because of the pandemic, were reopened several weeks ago. Basketball and tennis courts soon followed. |
| At Sunset Pool, swimmers left their masks on top of beach towels as they took a dip. The air smelled of chlorine and sunscreen. Just as lifeguards were watching for swimmers in distress, city workers were keeping an eye on social-distancing measures. | At Sunset Pool, swimmers left their masks on top of beach towels as they took a dip. The air smelled of chlorine and sunscreen. Just as lifeguards were watching for swimmers in distress, city workers were keeping an eye on social-distancing measures. |
| Jhoana Gonzalez, 33, a nanny from Sunset Park, floated in the water. “I feel very happy, relaxed,” she said. | Jhoana Gonzalez, 33, a nanny from Sunset Park, floated in the water. “I feel very happy, relaxed,” she said. |
| Ms. Gonzalez moved to the neighborhood last year, partly to be closer to the pool. Although she heard earlier this year that pools would not open, she checked online daily for better news. | Ms. Gonzalez moved to the neighborhood last year, partly to be closer to the pool. Although she heard earlier this year that pools would not open, she checked online daily for better news. |
| Outdoor pools are woven into the fabric of the city; 11 pools were opened within weeks of one another in the summer of 1936, when Robert Moses was parks commissioner. At the time, New York’s network of swimming pools was considered the largest and most advanced public-cooling infrastructure in the country, lauded for its filtration system and architectural styles. | Outdoor pools are woven into the fabric of the city; 11 pools were opened within weeks of one another in the summer of 1936, when Robert Moses was parks commissioner. At the time, New York’s network of swimming pools was considered the largest and most advanced public-cooling infrastructure in the country, lauded for its filtration system and architectural styles. |
| “It’s one of our great New York City traditions,” Mitchell J. Silver, the city’s parks commissioner, said. | “It’s one of our great New York City traditions,” Mitchell J. Silver, the city’s parks commissioner, said. |
| The free-of-charge swimming pools have historically served low-income families in need of relief under the summer sun. But in recent years, city pools have attracted New Yorkers from all backgrounds as a result of renovations and a variety of swimming lessons. | The free-of-charge swimming pools have historically served low-income families in need of relief under the summer sun. But in recent years, city pools have attracted New Yorkers from all backgrounds as a result of renovations and a variety of swimming lessons. |
| Jimmy Ren, 35, almost forgot to take off his face mask before making a cannonball jump into Sunset Pool. | Jimmy Ren, 35, almost forgot to take off his face mask before making a cannonball jump into Sunset Pool. |
| So, he removed his mask, gently placed it on top of his flip-flops and then — splash. | So, he removed his mask, gently placed it on top of his flip-flops and then — splash. |
| His 4-year-old son, Steven, was more hesitant. He had learned how to swim a year ago at Sunset Pool, but couldn’t seem to make the leap on Friday. After a little convincing, he slid into the water and the two laughed and played. | His 4-year-old son, Steven, was more hesitant. He had learned how to swim a year ago at Sunset Pool, but couldn’t seem to make the leap on Friday. After a little convincing, he slid into the water and the two laughed and played. |
| Beaches are also open for swimming, but Mr. Ren says he feels safer at the pool. | Beaches are also open for swimming, but Mr. Ren says he feels safer at the pool. |
| “I go to the beach and it’s more crowded there, so what’s the point?” he said. | “I go to the beach and it’s more crowded there, so what’s the point?” he said. |
| Although research shows a lower risk of transmitting the coronavirus outdoors compared with indoors, New Yorkers remain cautious. As the city sees record-low infections, reports of surging cases and rollbacks of reopening in states like Texas, Florida and California are worrying some residents. | Although research shows a lower risk of transmitting the coronavirus outdoors compared with indoors, New Yorkers remain cautious. As the city sees record-low infections, reports of surging cases and rollbacks of reopening in states like Texas, Florida and California are worrying some residents. |
| Mr. de Blasio’s change of heart in late June led the Parks Department to fast-track the reopening process from what normally takes three months to five weeks, Mr. Silver said. | Mr. de Blasio’s change of heart in late June led the Parks Department to fast-track the reopening process from what normally takes three months to five weeks, Mr. Silver said. |
| Within weeks, the department devised an elaborate plan for the pools, including a wristband system and social-distancing ambassadors. | Within weeks, the department devised an elaborate plan for the pools, including a wristband system and social-distancing ambassadors. |
| The selected recreation centers are operating at a 70 percent capacity. If the pool is full, visitors can receive paper wristbands that allow them to return later that day. | The selected recreation centers are operating at a 70 percent capacity. If the pool is full, visitors can receive paper wristbands that allow them to return later that day. |
| Inside the center, attendees must wear face coverings at all times, except in the water. Social-distancing ambassadors are stationed at locker rooms and poolside to watch out for overcrowding, as they also do at beaches. Swimmers are expected to keep six feet away from others while in the pool. | Inside the center, attendees must wear face coverings at all times, except in the water. Social-distancing ambassadors are stationed at locker rooms and poolside to watch out for overcrowding, as they also do at beaches. Swimmers are expected to keep six feet away from others while in the pool. |
| The city’s budget had room for 15 of the 53 public pools to reopen this summer. A range of factors was considered to choose the locations, including the condition of the pools, capacity and the impact of the virus on neighborhoods. | The city’s budget had room for 15 of the 53 public pools to reopen this summer. A range of factors was considered to choose the locations, including the condition of the pools, capacity and the impact of the virus on neighborhoods. |
| Louie Virella, 52, the Queens borough chief lifeguard, supervised Fisher Pool on Friday morning. He wasn’t surprised to see a line of people waiting before the pool opened. | Louie Virella, 52, the Queens borough chief lifeguard, supervised Fisher Pool on Friday morning. He wasn’t surprised to see a line of people waiting before the pool opened. |
| “This community, they love this pool,” Mr. Virella said. “If you live in the area, just bring your towel and a mask and jump right in.” | “This community, they love this pool,” Mr. Virella said. “If you live in the area, just bring your towel and a mask and jump right in.” |
| Though the coronavirus has derailed many summer plans, Mr. Silver expected that the pools now open would remain that way for the rest of the season: “It is my hope with all the rules in place, we’ll be able to keep the pools open until September 7.” | Though the coronavirus has derailed many summer plans, Mr. Silver expected that the pools now open would remain that way for the rest of the season: “It is my hope with all the rules in place, we’ll be able to keep the pools open until September 7.” |
| City pools are often crowded, but because of the reduced capacity on Friday bathers had plenty of space to make wide laps and big splashes without bothering others. | City pools are often crowded, but because of the reduced capacity on Friday bathers had plenty of space to make wide laps and big splashes without bothering others. |
| “I hope it’s like this for the rest of the summer,” Ms. Young, the Fisher Pool visitor, said. “I feel safe.” | “I hope it’s like this for the rest of the summer,” Ms. Young, the Fisher Pool visitor, said. “I feel safe.” |