Community Corner

Five Best Public Pools in Brooklyn

Swimming is awesome. Try it at one of these places!

This list compiled and written by Amy Sara Clark.

NYC Public Pools opened June 27. Hours are 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. daily with a break for pool cleaning between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. All pools are free.

Note that the only things permitted on the pool deck are a towel, sunscreen, a water bottle, books or bound periodicals (such as magazines) and rubber flip-flops or water shoes. No newspapers or electronic equipment–including cell phones–are allowed. If you want to wear a t-shirt over your bathing suit, it must be plain white (weird, but true). So you need to bring your own lock for everything you can’t bring poolside.

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Here's our entirely subjective list, in order, of the six best pools in Brooklyn. If you disagree, let us know in the comments. 

1McCarren Pool, This renovated mega-pool is gorgeous, and well orth the trip on the G-train. The 38,000-square foot pool can hold 1,500 people and has a wading area and sprinklers for the kids, sand volleyball court and a squeeky clean locker room. If you're concerned about the violence and poop issues from last summer, don't worry, those issues were quickly put to rest and the pool got rave reviews from the Daily News. Located at 475 Lorimer St, between Bayard St. and Driggs Ave (take the G to Nassau Avenue). 

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2. Red Hook Pool. This one is a major hike, so we didn't include it in the list. But you can take the bus there (the B63 to the B61 see full directions here), and we're including it as an extra because at 330' x 130' x 4', it's absolutely enormous, and people love it. (718) 722-3211.

3. Sunset Park Pool. Located in Sunset Park on Seventh Avenue between 41st and 44th Streets, this pool is because it is HUGE, olympic sized: 259' x 162' x 3.5', and an easy subway trip (though a good 10-minute walk when you arrive). (718) 965-6578. Hop the Brooklyn-bound R train to the 45th Street station or the D train (from the Atlantic-Pacific station) to 9th Avenue. 

4. Kosciuszko Pool. On Marcy Avenue between DeKalb and Kosciuszko is HUGE, 230' x 100' x 4', and also has a kiddie pool. Take the B38 up Lafayette Avenue or the G train to the Myrtle - Willoughby stop. (718) 622-5271.

5. Commodore Barry Park Pool. Located at Commodore Barry Park between Flushing and Park avenues, and Navy and North Elliot Streets – and not a bad size: 75' x 60' x 3' plus a separate kiddie pool.  (718) 243-2593.

Have a pool to suggest? Let us know in the comments.


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