Zohran Kwame Mamdani opened the 2026 outdoor pool season at Thomas Jefferson Pool in East Harlem, jumping into the swimming facility with local families as New York City’s outdoor pools started their summer run. The opening ties a public ritual to a bigger rollout: more lap swim, more Learn to Swim slots, and Senior Splash at five pools.
He said, “There’s a reason outdoor pool opening day is marked with fanfare every year: our public pools are beloved places to cool off on hot days, make memories with friends and learn the lifelong skill of swimming,” and added that he is proud to be one of the more than a million New Yorkers who will use the pools this summer. That number matters because the city is not treating the opening as a single-site event; it is pushing programming across all five boroughs.
Thomas Jefferson Pool in East Harlem
Tricia Shimamura joined the mayor and local families at the pool, where the city framed the opening around access and use rather than ceremony alone. Her message was direct: “Our outdoor pools are synonymous with summer in New York City. They’re where children first learn to swim, and where New Yorkers can go to beat the heat, stay fit and connect with each other, all for free,” and she said the department is expanding programming to give more people water safety skills and fitness opportunities.
The city is also marking the 90th anniversary of its 11 Olympic-sized public pools built through the Works Progress Administration. That history is part of the reason the opening carries weight: the current system is being presented as a public service that has lasted long enough to become part of the city’s summer routine, not just a seasonal amenity.
NYC Parks schedule and access
NYC Parks is expanding adult lap swim from five pools to 10 this summer, with sessions set for Monday through Friday from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Senior Splash returns to five outdoor pools, one in each borough, with free water aerobics for New Yorkers 62 and older. Learn to Swim has grown from 10 to 18 outdoor pools and will create more than 16,000 class slots for children ages 18 months to 17 years.
That expansion comes with a practical wrinkle. The city is celebrating free pool access and broader programming while relying on Parks workers and lifeguards to keep the pools operating every day. On the ground, that means the promise is not just opening the gates; it is maintaining enough staffing and coverage to keep lap lanes, senior classes, and children’s lessons moving at the same time across the boroughs.
“It’s time for families to put on their swimsuits, dig up their goggles and pack their towels for a day at the pool, because summer is here in New York City!” Julia Kerson said. For New Yorkers looking to use the system this season, the options are already laid out: free lap swim early on weekdays, senior classes at five sites, and a larger Learn to Swim program built for families who want a slot before they disappear.
