New York’s Floating Pool Finally Set To Become a Reality

In the heart of New York City, a visionary project that has been nearly 14 years in the making is finally gaining momentum. + POOL, an open-air pool designed to float on the East River, recently received a significant boost as Governor Kathy Hochul announced state and local funding for its realization. What began as a dream in June 2010 has navigated a complex journey of fundraising, testing, partnerships, and community advocacy to bring this innovative concept to the brink of reality.

Conceived by designers Dong Ping-Wong, Oana Stenascu, Archie Lee Coates, and Jeffrey Franklin, + POOL emerged from a desire to transform part of the East River into a unique swimming pool experience. Shaped like a plus sign, the pool aimed to cater to various needs, including lap swimming, a kids’ pool, ‘hanging out,’ and water sports. The journey began with a Kickstarter campaign in June 2011, raising $250,000 within a week to design and test a primary filtration layer.

After a brief hiatus, + POOL resurfaced in October 2012 with a more ambitious fundraising goal of $1 million. The project officially became a nonprofit organization, Friends of + POOL, in October 2014, with influential founding members like Joshua David and Marc Kushner. Over the years, the designers conducted feasibility studies, tested locations, and successfully filtered East River water through the Float Lab in June 2015.

The timeline is marked by partnerships, resolutions from community boards, and the green light announcement in May 2021, signaling a step closer to turning the vision into reality. The most recent milestone, Governor Kathy Hochul’s $16 million partnership commitment in January 2024, propels + POOL towards its anticipated opening date in 2025 on the Lower East Side.

The approved funding has breathed life into a visionary idea that was initially proposed over a decade ago, only to be dismissed by some as an urban fantasy. The concept involves a self-filtering swimming pool shaped like a plus sign, strategically positioned in the East River’s murky currents. Since its initial media attention, the project, known as +Pool, has faced sporadic progress hindered by regulatory barriers, but now, with the surge in summer heat drawing more New Yorkers to water recreation, Governor Hochul has pledged to expedite the long-stalled and much-debated innovative floating pool.

Governor Hochul announced plans for a “demonstration” version to be tested this summer, with a fully operational, swim-ready pool slated to open to the public by the summer of 2025. Alongside this commitment, Hochul proposed the construction of new swimming pools and the hiring of additional lifeguards across the state. She positioned this initiative as a public health investment, emphasizing its potential to enable more children to learn how to swim. Pending approval by state lawmakers, a $60 million grant program aims to construct 10 new pools in underserved communities, while an additional $30 million would fund pop-up pools during heatwaves.

The visionary project’s advocates have previously outlined plans for an Olympic-length pool anchored to the riverbed off Manhattan’s Lower East Side, featuring a distinctive filtration system capable of purifying 1 million gallons of water daily. Despite improvements in New York’s water quality, significant amounts of sewage-contaminated water still enter the rivers during heavy rainstorms.

Kara Meyer, managing director of +Pool and a proponent of the floating pool concept, expressed the belief that it would revolutionize the way New Yorkers engage with their waterways, harkening back to a bygone era when residents regularly bathed in the rivers to beat the heat.

However, amidst the celebration of progress, there are bittersweet sentiments expressed by original + POOL designer Dong Ping-Wong. He raised concerns about potential loopholes and the risk of contributing to gentrification in Chinatown, emphasizing the importance of preserving the project’s initial inclusive vision.

As + POOL inches closer to becoming a reality, the journey encapsulates the dedication and perseverance of its designers, the nonprofit organization, and supporters. The project not only promises a unique swimming experience beneath the city’s skyline but also underscores the challenges and considerations inherent in realizing a visionary idea in the bustling urban landscape of New York City.