Insider's View of Sunset's Pool and Lifeguards

The Daily News has a piece by a freelance journalist who is day-lighting as a lifeguard at our pool. His rendition of time at the pool is a lot more pleasant than last year's responses (pool review here).

Perfect Weather for Sprinklers

While Saturday's opening of the pool had some let-downs (threat of thunderstorms and the lightning that comes with it), Sunday was perfect. The sprinklers were on (although the sprinkler in the playground was not, happily), and the pool seemed well-utilized. The parade of pool-goers on the way to and from the subway station has begun!

How was it? Did anyone check out the pool and love it? Hate it? Lap swims start July 6th- 7-8:30 in the AM and PM.

Pool Opens this Weekend

During a brief conversation with a couple of other parents this AM, I realized that I just wasn't sure when the pool actually opened. I thought it was the first week in July, but it's actually THIS weekend. Don't forget that the pools have pretty strict rules about what you can wear/bring with you.

If the weather cooperates, and if this year is anything like last year, you may want to avoid the first few days if you are bringing little ones. The AM session is a lot less crowded than the PM session. And after a week or so, if you get there right at 11 AM, you have 30-45 minutes before it starts getting active.

Enjoy!

from the NYC website:

All 54 Parks outdoor pools have closed for the season and will reopen on June 27, 2009. Indoor pools remain open year-round. General hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Call individual pools for more specific information.

Four More Days to Enjoy the Pool!

The New York City Pools will be closing on Monday, so get yourself over to the Sunset Pool and enjoy it while you can. It's been incredibly empty lately, and lots of kids are learning to love the sand volleyball court as a sandbox.

The hours on Monday are ONLY from 11 - 3 PM, then it's over! Enjoy.


This photo is from the Sunset Park Pool in 1952.
I can't use it for the "Then and Now"
because I'd have no comparison; photos are not
allowed in the pool area now!

New York Times Article and Slideshow Feature Sunset Park's Pool

While the article dwells mainly on the major diving-fest and pool shut-down of a few weeks ago, the photos show a beautiful, not-very-crowded pool with appreciative kids (some breaking the No Diving rule). I'm sure they'll love that they were photographed being naughty. ;)

Here the link: NYT pool article

Brooklyn Pools Reviewed: Sunset is "Rough" and "Salty"

The Daily News has a run-down of Brooklyn (and Staten Island) pools in its July 18th edition. The best pool for smaller kids is the Bushwick Houses pool, and the cleanest one (and it's actually really great for kiddies too) is the Douglass and Degraw pool. How was the Sunset Pool rated?

No big surprise:

The best qualities were the view atop our hill and that "it's a great place to take a dip after a barbecue or volleyball game." No mention of the Olympic size of the pool or the water temperature or the ramp that allows for easy access into the pool with children. No mention of the sand volleyball court in the pool area that seems to be free a good amount of time.

* FYI: Barbecues are not allowed in Sunset Park, although they are sometimes overlooked by the enforcers. Also, it's tough to get volleyball time at the courts due to an extremely regular bunch of players.

There is lost of Room to Improve, according to The Daily News. The first is that you have to wear a suit to the pool (and bring a padlock!) because there is no actual space for changing. Okay, that's a pain, but not too bad. Also, I suppose if you're not too self-conscious, you can just change on your gender's specified side. For the babes (age, not looks), it certainly is fine. More relevant to people who go for relaxation or who bring kids is the amount of "roughhousing teenagers whose behavior and language can be as salty as the ocean." I love that the writer used "salty." On the upside, I suppose that could make pool-goers feel like they've had a day at the beach. On the downside, sensitive ears and - I think, more importantly - safety concerns need to be addressed at the pool more effectively.

A bonus mention of the Sunset Pool comes courtesy of one of the Red Hook staff members. Apparently, one (life guard?) called over the loudspeaker "If you don't like the rules, then you can go to Sunset Park!" Nothing like supporting your colleagues. I wonder how the staff at Sunset enjoys being called out (literally) by a fellow pool employee?

Check out the entire pool review here.

Parents Concerned About Safety at Sunset Pool

Sunset Park has one of the most beautiful, huge, delicious-looking pools ever. Hyperbole? Perhaps, but I don't think so.

That said, it's popular with lots of children, tweens, teens, and adults. That's a beautiful thing, of course, but it brings problems as well.

On a recent thread on Park Slope Parents, one parent asked about differences between the Red Hook Pool and the Sunset Pool. She mentioned that while it has a wonderful kiddie pool, the Red Hook Pool has many rules that seem "militant." (As another poster mentioned, all City pools have the same rules.) A follow-up poster wished for more militant enforcement of the rules at the Sunset Pool:

I went to the sunset park pool less than 2 weeks on a tuesday around 5pm and there was an organized incident where about 30 teenage boys started diving and jumping into the pool all at the same time, over and over. The life guards couldn't control them and two minutes later, police came out and shut down the pool--everyone had to leave. Thank goodness i happened to be in the middle of the pool with my two children when it started. When we came out, two of our towels were stolen. Now i have a bad taste in my mouth over sunset.*

*Used with author's permission.

Apparently, the sort of incident described has happened a few times (not just at the Sunset Pool) because the teens know that if one or two do running jumps into the pool (against the rules) they'll be thrown out. If a large group does it together, no one person gets in trouble. Of course, then the whole pool gets shut down and everyone's fun is ended. However, some teens (like some adults!) couldn't care less about other people's fun or safety. In another recent incident, a few teens were thrown out of the pool and proceeded to throw glass bottles into the pool area from outside the fence; no regard for other pool goers safety or fun was clearly demonstrated.

The best advice I can offer about the pools in general is to go early. The 11 AM - 3 PM session has far fewer problems than the late afternoon session. Also, I've heard from another parents that sticking close to the ramp area is "uncool" for the older kids, making it perfect for the littler ones.

In regards to towels being stolen, it stinks, and theft happens all the time. It's why the rules keep us from bringing much of anything into the pool area (or the locker area, for that matter!). Even the highest cost gyms have plenty of folks who help themselves to other people's stuff. May all towel thieves one day learn what it's like to have soaking wet kids and no towel with which to dry them.

An aside: Why oh why didn't they put in a kiddie pool instead of a sand volleyball court at the Sunset Pool? There are several areas around the park to play volleyball, but a kiddie pool would serve both the little ones and the older kids who want more space in the pool. This season, I have yet to see anyone utilize the sand volleyball court for something other than digging in the sand.

Determined Parents Brave Monster Line for Swim Lessons

This is the line for the Swim Classes at the Sunset Park Pool. It wouldn't be all that bad, except it's the line at 10:45 AM - almost two hours AFTER registration started. When I walked by again, at just after Noon, the line had been shifted (without incident) to allow for pool goers to get in. It was still an impressive line, but it seemed to be moving along. One parent told me he's actually been in line almost three hours. There will be a waiting list for those who don't make it into the classes at first. Mornings in the pool will be worth it, I'm sure!

Course II and Course III have registration days on July 24th and August 13th, respectively.

Register for Laps/Lessons/Team at Sunset Park Pool

First things first: Learn to Swim!

The first of three courses for ages 18 months through 5 years and 6 years through 14 years begins on July 8th, and it continues through July 23rd. Registration is on July 7th from 9 AM to 11 AM at the pool. It's first come, first served. Proof of age is required (a copy of a birth certificate), and children ages 6 through 14 will have a water test on registration day.

Lessons for 6 through 14 years take place on M/W/F from 9-11 AM, and lessons for 18 months through 5 years take place on Tu/Th from 9-11 AM. (This was from the city-wide number; I think it might actually be 10 AM - 11 AM.) I do know that lessons are free. Call (718) 760-6969 for more information.

SWIM TEAM! For those ages 6 - 18 who want to challenge themselves to more formal training, the Sunset Pool is hosting a 2008 Summer Swim Team, including a championship meet on August 9th.

Register on Monday, July 7th from 9 AM - 11AM, or on any scheduled practice day.
Practice is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM - 9:45 AM from July 8th through August 7th. Call (718) 760-6969 for more information.

Adult Lap Swim - early bird and night owl. Sunset Pool is hosting both the AM and PM sessions of Adult Lap Swim on Mondays through Fridays at 7 AM - 8:30 AM and 7 PM - 8:30 PM. Registration occurs during lap swim hours on any day throughout the season. The first day is July 7th, and is continues through August 29th. Again, call (718) 760-6969 for more information.

Sunset Pool is Popular Even When Rain is Imminent.

Despite occasional sprinkles during the break time (3-4 PM) before the second session on Saturday, the line was long, patient, and determined. Soon after this photo was taken, the rain began in earnest, and the pool afternoon idea had to be abandoned. Today looks much more promising, but since scattered thunderstorms are promised, the second session might also be scrapped. Hopefully not!

At a little past 9 AM on Saturday we encountered a young man who was first in line for the first session (at 11 AM). He said that the pool was cold, but "awesome." He said that since it would be packed, he was making sure he got a good locker and a chair. I hope he got what he waited all that time for!