FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, August 15, 2025
CONTACT: Nate Goehring, press@ny4p.org
Park Advocates, Elected Officials, and Community Leaders Celebrate Long-Awaited Red Hook Pool Opening This Sunday
Event Photos and B-Roll Available Here
BROOKLYN, NY — Local elected officials, park advocates, and community leaders gathered today to celebrate the upcoming reopening of the Olympic-size Red Hook Pool, which NYC Parks announced will welcome swimmers again starting Sunday, August 17 at 11:00 a.m.
The pool, a vital public resource in one of Brooklyn’s hottest and most underserved neighborhoods, has been closed this summer after NYC Parks discovered failing drainage pipe infrastructure in late June. Following weeks of urgent repairs and community pressure, the facility will now be available for the remainder of the swimming season.
“This reopening is more than just turning the taps back on — it’s restoring a space where neighbors cool off, kids learn to swim, and the whole community comes together,” said Kathy Park Price, Director of Advocacy & Policy at New Yorkers for Parks. “We’re happy to see the pool back in use, but this summer’s closure is a reminder that our city must invest more in the ongoing maintenance of our pools and recreation centers before they reach a breaking point.”
Speakers at today’s press conference included State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Council Member Alexa Avilés, representatives on behalf of Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes and Congressman Dan Goldman, Alan Mukamal of Friends of Red Hook Pool, Mike Racioppo, District Manager of Brooklyn Community Board 6, and Karen Blondel, President of the Red Hook West Resident Association.
Advocates noted that the Red Hook Pool and the adjacent Sol Goodman Recreation Center are slated for a $120 million comprehensive renovation, a project already delayed. The extended closure this summer, during multiple dangerous heat waves, underscored the urgency of addressing NYC Parks’ growing backlog of deferred capital maintenance projects, and the need for meaningful community engagement to ensure the reconstruction reflects local priorities.
"It's Pool Party Summer, and Red Hook residents can now dive into the fun," said Comptroller Brad Lander. "The neighborhood should not have been left without a cooling option in the height of summer. But together, we were able to make a splash and get the pool reopened in time to soak up the last bit of summer."
"This is the only public pool in the neighborhood, and for families across Red Hook, it's a vital gathering place to cool off, learn to swim, and spend time with neighbors," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "After we worked hard to get the sprinklers back on to keep families cool in the interim, I'm thrilled the Red Hook Pool is fully reopening and am grateful to NYC Parks for their work to make it happen. This is yet another reminder of how crucial it is to invest in our infrastructure for the long term, rather than try to play catch-up as things fall apart. With the summers getting hotter, it's never been more important to build truly resilient neighborhoods."
“For Red Hook, the pool is more than a recreational space, it’s a vital refuge during the hottest days of the year. This summer’s closure underscored just how essential it is for the city to properly maintain our pools and public spaces,” said Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes. “As the Parks Department and the City move forward with capital improvements, it’s critical that they continue engaging with the community every step of the way. I’m grateful to the residents and park advocates whose persistence ensured Red Hook’s needs were not ignored.”
“I am so pleased that Red Hook’s Pool is set to re-open this weekend, and that our community can once again have access to this valuable public resource. Red Hook has suffered from a history of under-investment in infrastructure repair and resiliency. That’s why it’s all the more important that, through advocacy from my office and New Yorkers for Parks, we have been able to ensure this speedy repair. I am committed to advocating for a continued focus on Red Hook’s infrastructure maintenance and building resiliency in the neighborhood for many years to come,” said Councilmember Alexa Avilés.
“When I learned on the day the Red Hook Pool was set to open, that a burst pipe would keep it shut down most of the summer, it was beyond disappointing. It meant that thousands of residents would have to sweat out the summer of 2025 with no cooling relief from the pool. It meant that scores of Red Hook youth would not have an opportunity to learn to swim this year. It meant that swimmers would have to look elsewhere to fulfill their need for fitness and emotional well-being. It is fitting that the pool will finally open on August 17, the same day in 1936 when the pool originally opened to a crowd of nearly 40,000 people!” said Alan Mukamal, Founder, Friends of Red Hook Pool.
"I am excited to hear that Red Hook's only public pool will re-open after being closed throughout most of the summer,” said Representative Dan Goldman. “I'm sympathetic to the unexpected challenges that arise from maintaining dilapidated infrastructure, but this was a clear example of the consequences of years of disinvestment that Red Hook is forced to deal with. This was the latest in a long list of wake up calls that Red Hook deserves proper attention to proactively address these issues before they become a crisis for the community. I am thankful to the NYC Parks Department for working hard to get the pool back online.”
“Good news, even when it comes late, is still good news, especially when it is the result of collective community action. The Red Hook Pool, like all public pools, is a vital resource. We will continue to advocate not only for on-time openings, but also for longer hours and an extended season so more people can enjoy them,” said Michael Racioppo, District Manager, Brooklyn Community Board 6.
“Red Hook Initiative celebrates the announcement of Red Hook Pool’s reopening. The pool is a vital community resource for the Red Hook neighborhood, particularly with rising heat events. In a community with limited access to cooling centers and public recreational facilities, the pool offers an essential space for residents to gather, stay active, and stay safe during the summer,” said Michael Partis, Executive Director, Red Hook Initiative.
"Every community deserves access to a public pool. In a city with a severe lack of public pools, the maintenance of aquatic infrastructure that already exists can and should be a priority. We are thrilled that the Red Hook pool is reopening after the Red Hook community came together to rightfully demand access to their local pool, especially during the height of summer heat. We thank NYC Parks for responding to community needs and hope that the community will continue to have a voice and play an important role in the ongoing capital reconstruction of the Red Hook Recreation Center and Pool,” said Shanna Blanchard, Chair, Water Safety Coalition.
In July, a coalition of local leaders and organizations, including Comptroller Brad Lander, State Senator Andrew Gournades, State Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Brooklyn Community Board 6, Red Hook Initiative, Water Safety Coalition, and Friends of Red Hook Pool, organized a petition to Mayor Eric Adams calling for swift repairs and greater long-term investment in park infrastructure.
About New Yorkers for Parks
New Yorkers for Parks (NY4P) is the citywide independent organization championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods. For over a century, NY4P has led the movement to protect, invest in, and celebrate New York City’s parks.