Astoria Park Pool Is Mecca For Swimmers
BYAYSELSEKMEC

Photo Aysel Sekmec The Astoria Park Pool is an urban oasis for kids and grownups alike.

The swimming pool in Astoria Park, extending from 23rd Road to Hoyt Ave South, is the largest of the 51 public outdoor pools in New York City and offers New Yorkers, as it has every year since 1936, a free and easy way to escape hot summer days as well as free swimming lessons for children ranging in age from one and a half to 14 years.

"We realize how important it is to have access to a pool during a hot summer," Phil Abramson, a spokesman for the Parks Department, explained. "We also encourage New Yorkers to learn how to swim."

The Astoria Park Pool is part of the city Department of Parks and Recreation and was first opened in 1936. It is probably best known for the Olympic Trials for the U.S. Swim and Diving Teams in 1936. It's 330 feet in length and can accommodate 3,000 people. Pool patrons have a choice between three pools: the main pool, the diving pool and a wading pool.

This is a family pool. Everywhere there are parents with their kids, enjoying themselves. Most important, however, parents appreciate the free swimming lessons the pool provides every summer. The program is called "Learn to Swim" and is part of the attraction of designated public pools throughout the city, including the Astoria Park Pool. Every year two three-week programs and a fiveweek program give children the chance either to improve their swimming skills or to acquire these skills if they haven't done so yet. Because the lessons are free and many children throughout the city are in need of swimming lessons, not everyone can be accommodated. Registration is first-come, first-serve and requires parents or legal guardians to be at the pool as early as 7 a.m., which still doesn't guarantee them a spot for their children.

According to Abramson, registration usually begins the day before the lessons are scheduled to start. "I tried to get my daughter in the program three years ago, but couldn't get her in, because it was already full," remembered 48-year-old artist Sandye Renz. "So I ended up signing her up for private lessons."

Rachid Badda, a 36-year-old room service manager at Hotel W and a proud father of a girl and a boy, had the same experience as Renz: "I've tried to get my kids in but I haven't been successful yet," he said. "But I'll keep on trying and I recommend it to other parents as well. The pool is easily accessible and it's free."

The only down side, it seems, is the many rules that pool patrons have to abide by.

"There is no food allowed, no drinks, no cell phones, bring your own lock, no radio, cameras and make sure you are wearing sandals or flip flops with rubber soles," Badda noted. According to Abramson, however, these rules are there to ensure the pool patrons' safety.

All in all the pool offers a great alternative to private pools or beaches. It's free, clean, and offers children swim lessons.

"We have many public pools, but Astoria Pool is the real gem and the most popular attraction," Abramson said.

Anyone who hasn't yet had the chance to check out the Astoria Park Pool should definitely do so before the end of the summer. It's open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. There's still time to register children for the "Learn to Swim" program. The remaining program runs from July 25 to August 1. Keep in mind that registration takes place a day before the start of the program. For more information, call 718-626-8620.