Red Hook's Olympic-sized pool will open Saturday after facing delays due to mechanical problems for the second summer in a row.
The pool will open at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18, the city Parks Department said. The department's popular Adult Lap Swim program will return the following Monday at 7 a.m.
"We know how important this pool is to the Red Hook community, and we appreciate everyone's support and patience as we worked to reopen the pool," Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said in a statement.
The reopening caps a frustrating stretch for the Brooklyn neighborhood that relies on the pool during the hottest days of the year. The facility was closed for most of last summer because of a broken pipe. Locals had eagerly awaited taking a dip in the pool this season, but workers discovered a flooded filter plant that had damaged motors and other equipment shortly before opening day.
The pool was closed during a sweltering heat wave that pushed temperatures past 100 degrees over the July 4 weekend. The pool draws roughly 40,000 visitors in a typical summer, according to Parks data.
During the closure, the department activated the site's spray showers so people could cool off, and the pool continued to serve as a free lunch site in partnership with the city Department of Education. Meals are available to anyone 18 and under, with no registration required.
The pool is one of several across the city marking 90 years in operation. Parks officials said they plan to begin a $122 million renovation of the pool and recreation center in 2028.
