Come on in, the water’s fine for another year!
Brooklyn Bridge Park will keep its beloved pop-up pool open for another summer after local parents and pols made a splash demanding it keep the cherished swimming hole afloat until there is a plan for permanent one, the head of the organization that operates the meadow announced last Wednesday morning in a stunning about-face from the outfit’s previous claim that it didn’t have enough money to keep the lagoon open.
“We’ve heard from the community, and are pleased to announce that the pop-up pool will remain for one more summer season,” said park president Regina Myer at a park board of directors meeting. “Keeping it for one more season gives us more time to pursue the best solution for everyone — a larger, permanent pool for Brooklyn Bridge Park.”
Park officials previously told locals they didn’t have the funds to keep the 60-person pool open and that it was just meant to be a temporary fixture that would expire at the end of this summer.
They had planned to replace the pool — located near Pier 2, right next to a soon-to-open condo complex — with a garden, but will now postpone that project for another year, according to park spokeswoman Belinda Cape.
Parents turned out to the meeting thinking they would have to make another plea to the park to keep the prized pool open, but say they were instead delighted by the shocking announcement.
“It’s great news, we’re so excited,” said Farrah Field, a Dumbo resident and a co-organizer of activist group Love Our Pool, which was pushing to keep the lagoon open. “We look forward to helping to come up with a plan for a permanent pool.”
Around 1,000 swimmers demanded the park keep the pool open until it has plans in place for a permanent pool in a petition organized by Love Our Pool and state Sen. Daniel Squadron (D–Brooklyn Heights) — and Myer’s change in tune shows their efforts weren’t in vain, the pol said.
“It shows that a community-driven effort, strong partnerships and a successful amenity can change minds and make a real difference,” said Squadron.
