Pool News
New York’s Floating Pool Finally Set To Become a Reality
![New York's Floating Pool Finally Will Become a Reality](jpg/plus-pool-nyc.jpg)
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.
![Plus Pool - Interview With Dong Ping Wong - Designer of the Plus Pool Concept in the East River in New York City](jpg/plus-pool-dong-ping-wong-1024x576.jpg)
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.
![](jpg/pluspool-rendering-promenade.jpg)
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.
Pool News
French Diver Makes Splash After Flop At Opening of Olympic Pool
![French Diver Makes Splash After Flop At Opening of Olympic Pool](jpg/french-diver-flops-at-olympics-pool.jpg)
French Olympic diver, Alexis Jandard, created a memorable moment at the grand opening of Paris’s new Olympic pool, though not quite in the manner he had envisioned.
A startling video captured during the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Paris Aquatics Center on Thursday showcased the 26-year-old Olympian’s unfortunate landing on his right foot while gearing up to dive alongside two fellow athletes. Adorned in a Speedo reflecting the hues of the French flag, Jandard’s discomforting descent saw him landing on his back, ricocheting off the nearly 10-foot-high dive board, and somersaulting into the pool in a rather ungraceful manner.
The incident unfolded in front of a sizable crowd of onlookers, including French President Emmanuel Macron and various dignitaries. Jandard later displayed his scraped back on his Instagram account, maintaining a light-hearted approach to his embarrassing mishap by quipping, “For your information, my back is fine, but my ego…”
Sharing a photo of his reddened back, courtesy of the encounter with the diving board, on Instagram Stories, Jandard assured followers of his well-being. Speaking to RMC Sport, he recounted the unexpected turn of events, stating, “I’m fine. I didn’t hurt myself; unfortunately, these things happen. It happened at a time when I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
![Alexis Jandard injured his back at the inauguration of the new Olympic Pool in Paris. Photo Credit: @alexis_jandard - Instagram](jpg/alexis-jandard-back-1024x576.jpg)
Reflecting on the incident, Jandard humorously noted, “I’ve broken boards before, but the board had never broken me before. Now it has.” Despite the hiccup, he maintained an optimistic outlook, remarking, “I would have preferred this ceremony to have gone well from A to Z. There was that little hitch. If it made people smile a little, so much the better.”
Explaining the mishap, Jandard clarified that his leg gave way upon landing but denied any slippage, emphasizing, “It’s a non-slip [board], and what’s more, the board was new, beautiful, and I think there’s still [some of] my back on the board there.”
With a silver and bronze under his belt at the 2022 and 2023 World Aquatics Championships, respectively, Jandard took the incident in stride, admitting, “It’s a shame, but it’s funny. When you take a step back, it’s funny.”
Looking ahead to the 2024 Paris Games this summer, where he is set to compete, Jandard acknowledged the inevitability of such occurrences in his sport, jesting, “These things happen,” while playfully lamenting, “It had to happen in front of the president and the whole of France. I think we chose the right moment.”
Despite being inundated with supportive messages and playful jabs, Jandard maintained a good-natured stance, urging his followers on Instagram, “Enjoy yourselves, make fun of me. I seriously deserve it!”
Pool News
Earthquake in Taiwan Causes Waterfall From Rooftop Pool
A massive earthquake in Taiwan transforms a rooftop pool into a waterfall. View viral footage.
![Earthquake in Taiwan Causes Waterfall From Rooftop Pool](jpg/taiwan-earthquake-pool.jpg)
In a harrowing turn of events, Taiwan was struck by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake, leaving devastation in its wake. The quake, the strongest to hit the island in 25 years, shook the east coast of Taiwan, particularly affecting the city of Hualien and its surrounding areas. With a depth of 34.8 kilometers, the epicenter of the earthquake was located 18 kilometers south of Hualien, according to the US Geological Survey.
As rescue efforts are underway to free those trapped under rubble and debris, the toll of the disaster continues to rise. At least nine individuals have lost their lives, while over 900 others have sustained injuries. The aftermath of the earthquake has left over 100 buildings damaged, with reports of landslides and collapsed structures adding to the chaos.
The force of the quake was so immense that it caused a surreal sight—a rooftop swimming pool overflowing and cascading down the side of a building, creating an impromptu waterfall. Footage captured during the earthquake also shows the sheer force as a man inside a pool struggles to maintain balance, the water swaying violently from side to side.
The region of Hualien County, with a population of approximately 300,000, faces immense challenges in assessing the full extent of the damage. Many inhabitants reside in remote coastal or mountain communities, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach them promptly. The precarious situation is exacerbated by the expectation of aftershocks, with 29 aftershocks greater than a magnitude of 4.0 already recorded near the epicenter.
Compounding the crisis are reports of miners trapped in two mines in Hualien, adding urgency to the rescue operations. Furthermore, over 91,000 households are grappling with power cuts, amplifying the difficulties faced by residents in the aftermath of the disaster.
Despite the widespread destruction, medical facilities in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei City, are functioning, albeit damaged. The Municipal Government has confirmed that hospitals are operating normally, providing critical care to the injured.
The international community has responded swiftly to the catastrophe, with the Biden administration monitoring the situation closely and expressing readiness to offer assistance. In the face of adversity, Taiwan is rallying its resources and resilience, demonstrating solidarity and resolve in confronting this natural disaster.
As the dust settles and the extent of the damage becomes clearer, questions arise about the effectiveness of early warning detection systems in mitigating the impact of natural disasters. Despite Taiwan’s investment in advanced seismic technology, including early warning systems designed to provide crucial seconds of alert before an earthquake strikes, many residents were caught off guard by the sudden and violent tremors. Reports indicate that the early warning detection system, while operational, did not reach a significant portion of the population in time to take preventive action
Pool News
Patent Pending Apple Watch SOS Feature Could Prevent Drownings
![Patent Pending Apple Watch SOS Feature Could Prevent Drownings](jpg/apple-watch-sos-drowning-prevention.jpg)
A forthcoming feature potentially destined for the Apple Watch, as detailed in a recent patent application, could serve as a lifesaver for swimmers at risk of drowning.
Outlined in the patent is a capability for the Watch to identify “irregular behavior” and automatically trigger a distress call for assistance.
Apple underscores the alarming statistics surrounding drowning, particularly its prevalence among children, as a leading cause of accidental fatalities.
In the United States alone, drowning claims the lives of over 3,500 individuals annually, ranking as the fifth most common form of accidental death. Tragically, a significant portion of these victims are children.
Emphasizing the critical importance of swift intervention during water emergencies, Apple highlights the dire consequences of prolonged submersion without resuscitation, which can result in brain damage and ultimately, drowning.
A Growing Need For Cost-Effective Wearable Solutions
While acknowledging existing underwater camera systems in some swimming pools aimed at detecting distressed swimmers and alerting lifeguards, Apple notes their costliness and unreliability.
Consequently, there’s a pressing need for a simpler, more cost-effective drowning prevention solution suitable for all types of water bodies, including public and private pools, as well as natural settings like lakes and ponds where installing underwater cameras is impractical.
The patent proposes leveraging wearable devices such as the Apple Watch for broader applicability, increased reliability, and the ability to detect various types of emergencies.
Alerting When Swimmers Are In Distress
For instance, if the Watch detects a wearer who is not proficient in swimming entering deeper water, it can promptly dispatch an alert instead of waiting for signs of distress.
These alerts can be transmitted to nearby devices, including those of friends and family, and seamlessly integrate with existing drowning detection and alarm systems to ensure lifeguards are promptly notified.
Apple Watches already boast capabilities to detect and respond to falls, vehicle accidents, and cardiac irregularities. Heartwarming testimonials featured in Apple’s “Dear Apple” video series show individuals whose lives were saved by these functionalities.
As with many patents from Apple, it’s important to note that not all concepts may materialize into actual products. Nonetheless, this innovation stands as a promising addition for potential integration into future watchOS updates.
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