By h. nazan ışık—

June 27 2026

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura and local families today jumped into the Thomas Jefferson Pool in East Harlem to open and celebrate the 2026 outdoor pool season. 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani (in suit) and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura (next to the Mayor) 

Even though swimsuits are required at all public pools, the mayor was in a full suit, tie and socks, breaking the dress code. 

Besides the swimsuit dress code, visitors must bring a lock for locker rooms. 

Mamdani joked on social media: “When they said, ‘wear a suit,’ I just assumed…”

“ New York’s outdoor public pools open today. Luckily, I am already in my swimsuit”

Mayor Mamdani (The Office of the Mayor / Facebook)

“There’s a reason outdoor pool opening day is marked with fanfare every year: our public pools are beloved places to cool off on hot days, make memories with friends and learn the lifelong skill of swimming, […] I’m proud to be one of the more than a million New Yorkers who will enjoy our pools this summer and hope our neighbors are ready to pack their swimsuits and jump in!” said Mayor Mamdani.

The City’s free outdoor pools are open daily from June 27 through Sept. 13. Mini pools will close Sept.7.

Pools are open from 11 a.m. through 7 p.m. daily, with a break for cleaning from 3 to 4 p.m. Admission is free and open to all. Visitors should bring a swimsuit, towel and a sturdy lock for locker room storage. Free sunscreen is available at every outdoor pool.

Officials said that this summer, NYC Parks is expanding its popular adult lap swim program from five to 10 pools — two in each borough. Lap swim will be available Monday through Friday from 7 to 8:30 a.m., And, Senior Splash also returns this summer to five outdoor pools, one in each borough, offering free water aerobics classes for New Yorkers 62 and older. And, the free Learn to Swim programs at 18 outdoor pools to provide free swim lessons for children ages 18 months to 17 years,

Visit the Parks Outdoor Pools page for more information and explore the Cool It! NYC map to find pools, spray showers, drinking fountains and other cooling resources across the five boroughs.

© h, nazan ışık / NKENdiKEN