Children in New York will be taught to swim for free this summer: how to apply
'15.05.2023'
Olga Derkach
After a hiatus since 2019, the Parks Department is offering free swimming lessons to youth at several of the city's pools. The publication shared the details NY1.
This summer, the Learn to Swim program is offered on a limited basis after it was canceled last year due to a lack of lifeguards.
“We continue to make up for the shortage of lifeguards and restore our corporation to pre-pandemic levels,” said New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We also understand the great importance of teaching the next generation how to swim.”
Swimming instruction will be offered at six outdoor city pools: The Crotona Pool in the Bronx, Red Hook Pool in Brooklyn, Hamilton Fish Park in Manhattan, The Liberty and Fisher pools in Queens, and Lyons in Staten Island.
On the subject: Where to find a free pool in New York
What you need to know
Learn to Swim is the city's program of free swimming lessons.
City pools open on June 29th and the lottery opens in mid-June.
Places to participate will be drawn by lottery. A thousand slots are open to children aged 6 to 17.
Josh Blakely has been spending his summers at Hamilton Fish Park for over a decade.
“We love this pool,” said Blakely, a Lower East Side resident.
He said he has great memories of the pool and hopes that eventually the Learn to Swim program will be fully implemented in all of the city's pools.
“I wish every child could attend classes,” Blakely said.
City Councilman Shekar Krishnan, who represents Queens and is chairman of the council's parks and recreation committee, says there are disparities in access to swimming instruction in the city.
“Learning to swim is an essential life skill and many of our communities, especially non-white immigrant communities, do not have access to swimming pools and many children cannot swim,” Krishnan said.
Krishnan says legislation is moving forward in the city council to expand access to swimming pools and free swimming lessons, and to revamp the lifeguard staff.
To apply for the lottery, visit Department of Parks website.
