Floating 'Plus' Pool Aims To Open In East River Next Year

NEW YORK CITY — A new filtered floating pool in the East River is looking to be open by 2025, officials said Wednesday

City officials are partnering with the state to fund a water filtration demonstration project beginning this August for a pool that will be located at Pier 35 near the Lower East Side.

The water filtration demonstration project will make sure that New Yorkers can safely swim in the pool, officials said.

"New York City’s waterways are some of our most important assets. By exploring the possibility of a + POOL, we are not only building on our historic investments in public pools across the city, but also expanding equitable access to swimming for all New Yorkers, especially our children,” said Mayor Eric Adams.

In January 2024, Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York City and New York state would collaborate on launching + POOL, a state-of-the-art swimming facility that, after fulfilling health and safety requirements, would float in the waters surrounding New York City.

Testing will assess water quality and help evaluate the additional requirements recently detailed by New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s protocol for non-traditional recreational water projects and the New York state Department of Health’s framework for novel bathing facilities.

Following final testing, the pool will open sometime in 2025, officials said.

“Through innovative solutions like + POOL, we are providing children and their families with safe spaces to swim in New York City," Hochul said. “NY SWIMS is the largest statewide investment in swimming since the New Deal, and we’re increasing access to pools while helping our kids learn how to stay safe in the water.”