Neighborhood Guide to Brooklyn's Free Oudoor Public Swimming Pools

Brooklyn has over a dozen outdoor public pools, of various sizes and depths. They are all run by the New York City Parks Department, which fairly strictly controls not only hours, but what kinds of clothing can be worn, what can be brought into the actual swimming area. Every pool has adequate lifeguards. The physical conditions of the pools vary; some are quite old.

And, while sometimes these public pools are impossibly crowded, at other times you can be pleasantly surprised by the quiet.

Parents of children should be aware that kids under 16 must, according to Park Department rules, be at least eight inches taller than the maximum water depth to enter the pool without adult supervision.

Unlike the indoor public pools, which require a membership, outdoor public pools are free, and ID showing Brooklyn or NYC residency is not necessary.

About this Neighborhood Guide to Brooklyn's Outdoor Public Pools

The list includes a range of different outdoor pools, for different ages and types of swimmers: Olympic sized pools with lap lanes, intermediate sized pools, three-foot deep mini pools and one-foot only shallow wading pools.

More information about swimming in NYC public pools can be found on the Parks Department website, http://www.nycgovparks.org.