Brooklyn Bridge Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, July 9, 2012

Brooklyn Bridge Park Opens New Pop-up Pool At Pier 2

Photo by Malcolm Pinckney

Brooklyn Bridge Park last week opened 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. Brooklyn Bridge Park President Regina Myer and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Executive Director Nancy Webster were joined by Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assembly Member 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.

“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 Assembly Member 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 Assembly Member Millman, which allowed for continued park progress. Senator Squadron recently secured $400,000 in state funding for the construction of the $700,000 pool.

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.