Officials cut the ribbon for the pool at the James Monroe Campus in the Bronx.
Credit: NYC School Construction Authority
New and renovated swimming pools opened on Tuesday at three NYC public high schools in separate boroughs.
The NYC School Construction Authority (SCA) announced the opening of school swimming pools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx on June 9, totaling more than $55 million in investments to improve aquatic facilities for public school students.
Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated pool at James Monroe Educational Campus in the Bronx at 1300 Boynton Ave. in Soundview. The event also recognized the new pools at the George Washington Educational Campus in Washington Heights and the Samuel J. Tilden Educational Campus in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.
The newly reopened pool at James Monroe underwent a renovation as part of a $10.1 million SCA project. Work included accessibility upgrades and full renovation of the existing pool, allowing the facility to return to active use after construction began in June 2023.
George Washington Educational Campus pool in Manhattan.Credit: NYC School Construction Authority
“Swimming pools are essential school amenities that support physical education, recreation, and critical water safety instruction for students across the five boroughs,” Nina Kubota, president and CEO of the SCA, said. “These projects reflect our commitment to ensuring students have access to safe, modern facilities that promote health, wellness, and personal growth.”
At the Tilden campus, the SCA completed a $23.5 million project to deliver a newly upgraded pool facility, with construction beginning in September 2022 and the pool returning to service in 2025.
Samuel J. Tilden Educational Campus pool in Brooklyn.Credit: NYC School Construction Authority
At George Washington, the SCA completed a $21.7 million project that included the construction of two new swimming pools and upgrades to low-voltage systems. Construction began in July 2022, and the pools are now operational for students.
“Seeing not one, not two, but three incredible new swimming pools open across our school communities is a clear investment in opportunity for our students and families,” Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said. “These state-of-the-art facilities will provide access to learning to swim programs, lifeguard training, water sports, and competitive swim meets for years to come.”
NYC has been investing heavily in school and public aquatic facilities through the SCA and the billion-dollar Let’s Swim NYC initiative to improve and build public pools. In June 2024, officials reported seven school-pool upgrades across the city, including two newly completed swimming pools at the Harry S. Truman High School campus in the Bronx.