We announced a major policy change!

At + POOL’s Annual Summer Pool Party, a fundraiser that raises support for our continued work and community-based programs, we announced a major project milestone we never could have imagined: + POOL has ignited a major policy change at the city level, a policy that is anticipated to open up more opportunities for New Yorkers to access the water that surrounds them. 

We have always known that there is no existing regulatory structure for what we have proposed and after finally receiving a notice to proceed on the project, these regulatory challenges began to surface with city agencies in a real way.  In New York City, we permit swimming facilities through two frameworks: one for beaches and one for swimming pools.  + POOL does not fit neatly into these formats.  Our floating pool concept and all its iterations are not, by definition, a beach or a pool.  So we were thrilled that the Mayor’s Office recently directed agencies to assess the adoption of a new framework for “nontraditional beaches,” such as floating pools, filtering pools and other models. 

The coolest thing about all of this is that other public access projects for primary contact recreation that are in conceptual, design or planning phases may be supported through this new regulation as will countless interventions and ideas that we imagine have not even been born yet. Next gen, you’re up! 

We announced the big news at our Summer Pool Party and had a blast celebrating it.  We wouldn’t be where we are without all the special people that continue to volunteer, provide expertise and contribute financially to our work, so it was extra special to share the news with our awesome pool party guests. 

Check out photos from the celebration below!

Press

Read about this major milestone in:

Edible Manhattan 

Pool Party Sponsors

Thanks to our Pool Party Sponsors!