Brooklyn Heights

Parents want temporary Pop-Up Pool to stay open at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Park says looking at possibility of permanent pool down the road

June 28, 2016 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
A new parent group is urging Brooklyn Bridge Park to keep its popular pop-up pool open past its five-year mandate. The little pool is scheduled to close at the end of this summer. Eagle photo by Mary Frost
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The popular Pop-Up Pool in Brooklyn Bridge Park is opening today for its fifth and final summer season, and some parents are already singing the blues.

The 30-by-50-foot pool has been a big hit with park goers, who come from both the nearby neighborhood and from across the borough to enjoy a free swim. The area around the pool includes a 2,500-square-foot sandy beach, a concession stand, showers and restrooms.

The temporary pool has proven so popular, however, that its users are reluctant to let it go. A newly formed parent group and local officials are urging the park to keep it open while it studies the feasibility of installing a permanent pool.

Susanne Quint, a resident of DUMBO and the mother of two 9-year-old twins, is organizing the group Love Our Pool. She told the Brooklyn Eagle on Tuesday, “Our goal is to educate families about the pool’s scheduled closing and to mobilize families.”

Members of Love Our Pool want to “make sure the park understands how appreciated and loved the pool is,” she said. “We don’t have lots of pools in Brooklyn. If you’re a parent in Brooklyn in the summer looking for a way to cool down and entertain kids, the pool is incredibly valued.”

Park officials say they’re sympathetic to the parents’ wishes, but the Pop-Up Pool was never intended to be permanent.

“We love the pop up pool too! However, per the 2011 MOU negotiated by Sen. Squadron, it was always planned and designed to be temporary, and for more parkland to be created at the site,” park spokesperson Belinda Cape told the Eagle.

She added, “Although we do not have funding at this time, we fully intend to pursue a full-size permanent pool at BBP. We look forward to working with our elected officials to secure the necessary funds and achieve this goal.”

On Monday, Squadron hailed the season’s opening, saying, “The pop-up pool is set to make another splash for park users throughout Brooklyn!”

He added, however, “Heading into its fifth summer, it’s clear the pool has become a popular and beloved community amenity — losing it would be a big loss for all of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Along with the community and colleagues, I’ll keep pushing to continue the pop-up pool’s success and ensure a permanent pool in the park.”

Quint said the group has had about 40 families signed up so far, and has just created a Facebook page. Love Our Pool’s tagline is “Families United for a Pool in Brooklyn Bridge Park.” (The group can also be reached at [email protected])

 

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