State Senator Daniel Squadron joined Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) today to open the Pop-Up Pool, a new five-year temporary pool that is situated off of the park greenway near Pier 2. The pool area includes a sandy beach with 25 lounge chairs and 10 picnic tables with umbrellas. The site also includes a food and drink concession, showers and restrooms. Senator Squadron, BBP President Regina Myer and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Executive Director Nancy Webster were joined by Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Assemblymember Joan Millman, Councilmember Steve Levin, a representative from Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office, Jane Smith and Marc Gordon of Spacesmith, and Anna Dietzsch of Davis Brody Bond Architects and Planners.
"Last summer we secured a pool as part of our agreement to move Brooklyn Bridge Park forward. And this summer, families can dive right in!" said Senator Daniel Squadron. "The pool is already making a big splash with Brooklyn families. I was proud to help fund the pool, beach, and concessions, and I'll continue to work with BBP and my colleagues to make the pool and other active recreation permanent fixtures at the park. Thank you to BBP, the Conservancy, Assemblymember Millman, Councilmembers Levin and Lander, Borough President Markowitz, and all who helped make today possible."
"This new pop-up pool provides a great new venue for Brooklyn residents to cool off during these hot summer days,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “We're grateful to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation and the Conservancy for designing, planning and funding this remarkable addition to the Park. We invite visitors to take advantage of the pool’s beautiful, sandy beach to rest, relax and enjoy the splendid views of lower Manhattan.”
"We are grateful for Senator Squadron’s and Assemblymember Millman’s leadership as well as the Senator’s additional support on this project,” said Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park. “The Pop-up Pool provides a much needed oasis for all park visitors during the hot summer months and with the adjacent sandy beach and concession, it makes for a very unique park experience for all who visit."
The addition of the temporary pool was included in a Memorandum of Understanding agreed to by the City, Senator Squadron, along with Assemblymember Millman, which allowed for continued park progress. Senator Squadron recently secured $400,000 in state funding for the construction of the $700,000 pool.
“With the opening of the Pop-Up Pool, things are going swimmingly at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Featuring its own sandy beach and stunning views of the ‘outer borough’ of Manhattan, the East River, and the world-renowned Brooklyn Bridge, there’s no doubt that visitors will take to the borough’s hottest new pool like ducks to water,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Thanks to the great work of State Senator Daniel Squadron, State Assemblymember Joan Millman, City Councilmember Steve Levin, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, staying cool in Brooklyn, aka the ‘Coolest City on the Planet’ according to GQ Magazine, just got even easier.”
“Today, we welcome another attraction at Brooklyn Bridge Park - a pop-up pool,” said Assemblymember Joan Millman. “We are glad that another section of the park is open for the public to enjoy.”
"The opening of the pop-up pool at Pier 2 is a yet another exciting step forward for Brooklyn Bridge Park,” said Councilmember Steve Levin. “I'm sure that families from throughout Brooklyn will be lining up to enjoy some relief from these sweltering temperatures. I'd like to thank Regina Myer and Nancy Webster for bringing this much-needed pool to the Park." “Like the floating pool from a few years ago, this new outdoor recreation area will draw residents to Brooklyn Bridge Park,” said Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). “With the summer we’ve had so far, it is great to see more opportunities for New Yorkers to cool off with their families.”
”We’re excited to welcome swimmers to Brooklyn Bridge Park,” said Nancy Webster, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. “With its spectacular location overlooking the Harbor and the Brooklyn Bridge, the pop-up pool and beach should prove to be a popular destination for park visitors to swim, relax, eat and drink, and enjoy a glorious summer in Brooklyn Bridge Park.”
“The design team wanted to create a low impact solution, incorporating the shipping containers, concrete pads and stone blocks typically found at an urban waterfront, said Marc Gordon, Project Partner at Spacesmith.” The use of bold colors, playful graphics, sand and umbrellas are evocative of a great day at the beach.”
“As a resident of Brooklyn and a mother, I was excited to be a part of this project and to contribute to the local community in a way that will create a fun space for residents and visitors to enjoy,” said Anna Dietzsch, Senior Architect at Davis Brody Bond Architects and Planners.
The pool, which will be located at Pier 2 for five years, will be operated by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. It measures 30’ x 50’ and 3.5 feet deep and is ideal for families. The maximum capacity of the pool is 60 people, but open hours will be divided into swimming sessions to accommodate as many swimmers as possible. It will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Labor Day. Affordably priced swim lessons will be available from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The beach and food concession – Brooklyn Beach Shack – will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Admission to the pool and beach is free.
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