Tompkins Square mini pool set to open Saturday (tomorrow!)

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Tompkins Square Park mini pool (yes, Tompkins has a mini pool) will welcome its first swimmers of the season tomorrow, aka, Saturday, June 27. (All outdoor city pools open tomorrow.)  

We stopped by this week as Parks staff made the final preparations ahead of opening day. Workers were skimming and cleaning the pool, installing new signage and checking equipment. We also witnessed pH and chlorine testing, with everything appearing on track for an on-time opening.

At around 86 degrees and sunny, the pool looked especially inviting. 

Unfortunately, the mini pool is reserved for children and their accompanying adults, so we had to resist the urge to take a quick dip.

Outdoor pool hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with a cleaning break from 3 to 4 p.m. 

This may also be the last summer for the mini pool in its current form. In August 2024, Gov. Hochul announced nearly $150 million in capital grants through the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. 

As part of that program, Tompkins Square Park was awarded $6.1 million for a new in-ground pool that is expected to double the capacity of the current above-ground setup. 

So enjoy the trailer-style pool era while it lasts.