New York City’s long-anticipated floating East River pool is one step closer to reality, with recent announcements marking significant progress. The innovative project, known as + POOL, has garnered attention for its self-filtering, cross-shaped design and its aim to revitalize the city’s waterways.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams recently revealed that the floating pool will be constructed at Pier 35, located near Manhattan’s Lower East Side. However, swimmers may need to wait until summer 2026 to enjoy its facilities. The pool’s cutting-edge filtration system is set to clean over a million gallons of river water daily without chemicals. Initial testing of this system will start this month on a floating barge near Pier 35, with further tests to be conducted next year on a segment of the pool.
In January, Governor Hochul secured a significant milestone for the project with $16 million in joint city and state funding, part of the $150 million NY SWIMS initiative. Mayor Adams highlighted that + POOL will enhance “equitable access to swimming for all New Yorkers, especially children.” Currently, New York City, with its population of over 8.3 million, has around 50 public pools, which often leads to overcrowding during peak summer months.
The + POOL project, initially a collaboration between creative studio PlayLab and the now-defunct firm Family, was first launched via Kickstarter, raising over $300,000 between 2011 and 2014. The original estimated cost of $21 million has now risen to approximately $50 million, with more precise figures pending. The pool will feature a 9,000-square-foot cross-shaped design that can accommodate up to 300 swimmers. It will include various sections for different activities and can be reconfigured into Olympic-sized lanes or a large single pool.
The filtration system will not only make the water swim-ready but also help improve the river’s overall cleanliness. Friends of + POOL, a nonprofit co-founded by the project’s designers, continues to advocate for water safety and community access.
Despite the project’s success, it has faced some criticism. Dong-Ping Wong, one of the original co-founders, voiced concerns about the board’s diversity and the project’s service to the Chinatown community. Wong has since been replaced by other architects, but his name remains associated with the project. Friends of + POOL has responded by highlighting their commitment to inclusivity and community involvement, noting that four of their ten board members identify as women or people of color.
As the construction progresses and testing continues, the floating pool project aims to offer new ways for New Yorkers to engage with their riverfront while setting a precedent for future urban waterway innovations.
