An Exciting New Floating Pool with Stunning Skyline Views is Coming to New York City’s East River

Ever dreamt of taking a dip in the East River? Likely not. Despite recent cleanup efforts to tackle its infamous pollution and debris, this isn’t the most inviting waterway. But what if you could float safely in a clean pool above the river? That’s what the highly anticipated +Pool promises: an opportunity to swim in a pool that sits atop the East River, filled with filtered and purified river water.

The initiative has been in development since 2017 and is finally set to launch in 2025, thanks to the recent support from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who confirmed their backing for the pool on January 5, 2024. They cited the need for increased public pool access for city residents during the heat of summer. The city and state have allocated $16 million for the project, with a smaller prototype scheduled for construction and testing this summer, paving the way for the full pool to open to the public in the summer of 2025.

+Pool gets its name from its proposed shape: a large plus sign that can be divided into four areas for kids, lap swimmers, sports, and relaxation. Alternatively, it can be configured as an Olympic-sized lap pool or a massive play area. Spanning 9,500 square feet, the pool will hold 285,500 gallons of water sourced directly from the East River, filtered through patented walls that act like a strainer to eliminate bacteria and contaminants before entering the pool. This system allows for river swimming without the need to purify the entire river. +Pool will also utilize EPA water quality modeling software to ensure it meets cleanliness standards.

As stated on the +Pool website, the pool will accommodate a maximum of 300 swimmers at a time and can welcome up to 1,800 visitors each day. The specific location for the pool has yet to be revealed.

New York City’s public pools, which currently include 53 outdoor and 12 indoor options, have faced overcrowding issues, while the rivers remain off-limits for swimming. +Pool seeks to enhance access to the city’s waterways, aiming to let New Yorkers swim in the East River again—something not possible since 1938 due to contamination. Before that, floating river pools were prevalent in NYC, with 15 established by 1890. However, pollution rendered most unsafe by the 1920s, leading to their closure by the late 1930s.

So where can New Yorkers and visitors enjoy outdoor swimming this summer, before +Pool opens next year? In addition to the previously mentioned free public pools, there's the waterfront infinity pool on Governors Island, part of the QC Terme spa. Various city hotels provide day passes or cabana rentals for non-guests, including the new pool area at Virgin Hotels New York City; the glass-bottomed rooftop pool at Dream Downtown; the heated rooftop pool at the William Vale in Brooklyn; the Somewhere Nowhere rooftop pool and lounge atop the Renaissance Chelsea; the sundeck and pool at Hotel Indigo Williamsburg; and the lively patio and pool area at Rockaway Hotel + Spa near Rockaway Beach. If you're traveling through JFK International Airport, be sure to check out the TWA Hotel’s rooftop pool, which offers views of incoming and outgoing flights and transforms into a heated Jacuzzi in winter, making it a year-round destination.