Dive In: A Guide to the Best of NYC's Free Swimming Pools

It is a well known fact that New York summers are the worst. They are hot, humid, sticky and there is no fresh air to breath anywhere. This is when a pool would come in handy, but you're not the first person to think of it. You could pay the big bucks to go to a hotel pool, or you could go to that possibly disease-ridden YMCA pool around the corner. We have saved you the struggle of finding the perfect free pool with our Guide to the Best NYC Free Swimming Pools. Enjoy a refreshing day in the pool, with doggy paddle room to spare—it's on us.

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Where: Third Ave & Nevins St.
Neighborhood: Gowanus, Brooklyn
Hours open: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org
Why you should go: A generously sized pool with plenty of shade and a friendly staff, some call the "Double D" pool Gowanus's best kept secret.

Where: 44th St. & 7 Ave.
Neighborhood: Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Hours open: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org/parks/sunsetpark
Why you should go: Not only is the pool well maintained and enjoyable in the torturous New York heat, but you can enjoy a stroll in the beautiful Sunset Park afterwards.

Where: 475 Leonard St.
Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Hours open: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org/parks/mccarrenpark
Why you should go: This pool is less crowded than most, with an impressively clean changing room, which is a rare find.

Where: 155 Bay St.
Neighborhood: Red Hook, Brooklyn
Hours open: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org/facilities/recreationcenters/B126
Why you should go: Large, clean, and not nearly as crowded as the ones in Manhattan, this pool also offers a weight room for the health freaks.

Where: 77th St. and Cherokee Place
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Hours open: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park
Why you should go: Shaded by neighborhood trees, the pool is big and clean with a separate diving pool. The water isn't heated, which is pretty refreshing in this sweltering New York heat.

Where: 1 Clarkson St.
Neighborhood: West Village
Hours open: Mondays-Fridays: 7:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturdays-Sundays: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/recreation_centers
Why you should go: This outdoor pool is free, extremely refreshing, and has a diving section. And who wouldn't want to swim next to a giant Keith Herring mural?

Where: Tiffany St. & Viele Ave.
Neighborhood: Bronx
Hours open: 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org/parks/barrettopointpark
Why you should go: Although the pool is not very close to a subway, there is a gorgeous view of the water front that makes the trek worth it. It is also on top of a moveable barge, which is pretty unique.

Where: 19th St.
Neighborhood: Astoria
Hours open: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org/parks/AstoriaPark/highlights/8892
Why you should go: The pool is huge and it has a spectacular view of the Upper East Side, so, yes, it is worth it trek to Queens.

Where: 128 Pitt St.
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Hours open: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org/facilities/recreationcenters/M033
Why you should go: This recreation center has the only Olympic size pool in Manhattan, so, needless to say, it stomps on smaller pools filled with a lot more people. It's also a close walk to a slew of LES bars and eateries, so you can get some delicious grub afterwards.

Where: 392 Asser Levy Pl.
Neighborhood: Kips Bay/Stuyvesant Town
Hours open: Mondays-Fridays: 6:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturdays-Sundays: 8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Website: nycgovparks.org/parks/asserlevy
Why you should go: The indoor pool features fountains and skylights, and the outdoor pool is clean, which is rare. Asser Levy also has basketball courts, a playground, and an Arts and Crafts room—a perfect place to spend the day with the fam.