Astoria Pool To Open By August, Reversing Coronavirus Closure

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Astoria Park's outdoor swimming pool is on track to reopen by Aug. 1, after city officials struck a deal to reopen some of the public pools that have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting budget woes.

The Astoria pool is among 15 pools across the city that will open by August, thanks to an agreement between Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council to restore millions of dollars that the mayor had slashed from the parks department's budget as the pandemic crippled city finances.

In Queens, Liberty pool in Jamaica and Fisher pool in East Elmhurst will also reopen.

"We had to choose the ones that we thought would have the maximum benefit for the communities hit hardest, the largest pools that we could open, the ones for folks who were the farthest from the beaches," de Blasio told reporters Wednesday.

The parks department will spend more than $5 million to hire 716 lifeguards and millions more on other workers to staff the reopened pools, according to the mayor's office.

Visitors will be asked to cover their faces when they're not in the pool and follow social distancing rules, the mayor said.

"For families, for kids in particular, this is going to be so important — something to look forward to and to enjoy this summer and a place to stay cool," de Blasio said.

But swimming pools won't be the only way for New Yorkers to go for a dip: City beaches officially open to swimmers on Wednesday.