McCarren Park Pool started off its second season last Thursday morning in a mellow mood, as about 300 kids and adults frolicked in the water under overcast skies.
Expected thunderstorms, which never arrived, seemed to have kept the larger crowds at bay.
“If it hadn’t been for the forecast for rain, I think we would have been close to capacity,” said Kevin Jeffrey, the Parks Department’s Brooklyn borough commissioner. The capacity for the pool is 1,500.
It was a far cry from opening day in 2012, when there was a line to get in that stretched down the block before the 11 am opening. Within one day, the playful vibe had turned to chaos. During the first week, a lifeguard was attacked, and there were several fights among patrons.
Williamsburg and Greenpoint residents are crossing their fingers that this summer the vibe at the pool will be less tense.
“I’m hoping it will be quieter this year,” said Dallara Gonzalez, who was at the pool with her nine-year-old daughter, Jahanara Lopez. “We try to come in the early session, because the older kids come in the afternoon and then it gets a little crazy.”
Thursday’s smaller crowd meant more room to splash, as well as no wait to get in.
“Today was so easy compared to last year,” said Michael Mylek, who brought his eight-year-old son, Peter. “Last year was brutal. You had to wait in line for maybe one hour.”
The McCarren Park Pool opened in 1936. It was closed in 1984 because the city didn’t take car of it, and from 2005 to 2008, the vacant park was used as an indie-rock venue. The city spent $50 million to renovate it to its glory days, and the pool reopened last year.
McCarren Park Pool [475 Lorimer St. between Driggs Avenue and Bayard Street, (718) 965–6580]. June 28–Sept. 3; 11 am to 7 pm. Free.
Reach reporter Danielle Furfaro at dfurfaro@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2511. Follow her at twitter.com/DanielleFurfaro.
