Floating pool at Pier 35 will let New Yorkers swim in the East River

LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) -- New Yorkers may see a “floating” pool in the East River soon.

Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that the floating pool, originally revealed in January, would be coming to Pier 35 on the Lower East Side by next summer. City and state officials are moving forward with their plan by partnering to fund demonstration projects for the water filtration system this August. 

“Whether it’s investing over $1 billion in capital to build and maintain public pools, opening more pools this summer, or increasing the number of lifeguards at our beaches and pools, our administration is giving New Yorkers additional ways to stay cool as climate change makes heat waves more common,” said the mayor on Wednesday. 

Officials say +POOL will be a plus-sign shaped swimming facility that floats in the waters surrounding the city. The pool would act like a giant strainer to filter river water through the walls and create a safe swimming space. 

The floating pool is part of the city’s “Let’s Swim NYC” plan, which includes renovating three existing pools and building two new indoor facilities at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens and Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Brooklyn.