McCarren Park Pool | 776 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg/Greenpoint
Pro tips: Now open through Labor Day. Get ready to mix and mingle with your neighbors of all backgrounds and ages. The semi-recently restored pool is perfect to take a dip on the hottest days of the year. It’s FREE, but there are rules. You need to bring your own lock, a towel, wear all white (if you plan to don a t-shirt or coverup) and should leave your cellphone at home. We recommend getting an ice cream bar from a park vendor post-plunge (there are no food vendors inside the pool). Check out this previous post for the full lowdown on how best to prepare yo’self. Here’s what the pool looked like in 2006 when it played host to hip summer parties, a few years before the restoration.
Metropolitan Swimming Pool | Bedford & Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg
Pro tips: Annual membership costs $150 for adults, and $25 for seniors (ages 62 and older), $25 for young adults (ages 18-24). Membership is free for under-18’s. There are designated community swim hours.
Greenpoint YMCA | 99 Meserole Ave., Greenpoint
Pro tips: $165 for a Summer In The City Membership for pool access from now through August 31st. The membership also includes access to the gym and sauna/steam rooms. Seems like a good deal. Note, you need to bring a bathing cap to swim.
Brooklyn Athletic Club | 8 Berry Street, Williamsburg
Pro tips: This gym has private training pools, which you can book 30-minute sessions in even if you’re not a member. A pool package of 10 sessions is available for $192.
The McCarren Hotel | 160 N 12th Street, Williamsburg
Pro tips: Leave your screaming mini-me’s at home: children are not allowed at the McCarren Hotel’s heated ground floor pool (unless you are a guest of the hotel). If you don’t book a room at the hotel, the lowest price access is $55 for an individual day pass—weekday (M-Th) per person price is $55; weekend is $85, a single sun bed reservation during the week is $115, $125 on the weekend, from 11am-4pm. Or you can reserve a double sun bed for $205 during the week or $250 on the weekend. FYI: “No topless tanning.” The McCarren Hotel pool offers Wifi, food and bar service.
Pool @ The William Vale | 111 N 12th St, Williamsburg
Pro tips: Book a “play hooky” room ($450, includes a bottle of rosé, 2 pool passes and 2 poolside appetizers) for a staycation and unrestricted access to the pool, or book a day pass. Day passes are open to the public from Monday through Thursday from 8am-8pm. They include reserved seating in a chaise lounge, pergola, daybed or cabana, but will run you at minimum $150 per person (weekday chaise lounge), up to $850 for a group of 6 people. The Vale pool is a “60-foot outdoor pool with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. Snacks, light fare, and cocktails are served poolside under the direction of award-winning Chef Andrew Carmellini.” You can also become a Member of the pool, for the tidy sum of $5k and up…!
Profundo Day Club @ The Ravel Hotel | 8-08 Queens Plaza South, LIC
Pro tips: Book a room at the Ravel Hotel for $159 on a weekday to get 50% off a pool pass. You can have your small dog in the room, too! Make sure you follow their extensive dress code, which prohibits Speedos, ripped jeans and sandals and socks, among other things. The pool passes offer a variety of price tiers and timed entry, starting at $25 for sunset session (5-9pm) entry, not including a reserved chair. For cabanas for larger parties of up to 8 for a full day, that’ll run you $1200, but that includes a $1200 food and beverage credit.
Honorable Mention—Playgrounds with kid-friendly water features:
McCarren Park (Manhattan between Driggs & Engert), McGolrick Park (Nassau & Russell), American Playground (Franklin between Milton & Noble), Greenpoint Playground (Franklin between Commercial & Dupont), Transmitter Park (Greenpoint Ave @ the water), Cooper Park (Maspeth & Morgan), Jamie Campiz Playground (Marcy & Metropolitan)