In a bold turn for New York City’s waterfront, the long-awaited +POOL project edges closer to reality with the arrival of its steel structure in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Designed to float near Pier 35 by 2026, this striking creation promises a public swimming pool that filters East River water—no chlorine, just clean, natural flow. Backed by state and city support, this pilot marks a new era of urban swimming. As the steel giant rests, silent and firm, the city watches a watery dream begin to rise—ambitious, alluring, and undeniably historic.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• Steel structure for +POOL arrives at Brooklyn shipyard
• Will be installed in East River near Pier 35 by May 2026
• Project aims to clean river water naturally for public swimming
• Rectangular pilot pool to help secure state and city permits
• Filtration system includes UV treatment and multi-layer straining
• Seen as part of a global trend in urban waterway access
A vision more than a decade in the making is finally beginning to take tangible shape along New York City’s waterfront. On Friday, a hulking black steel rectangle — the core of the long-awaited +POOL project — arrived at a shipyard in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Towed in from Mississippi, this steel shell will soon be transformed into what advocates say will be the city’s first floating, water-filtering swimming pool anchored in the East River.
The initiative, known simply as “+POOL,” has stirred interest, excitement, and curiosity since its inception nearly 15 years ago. With a promise of turning a portion of the city’s often-avoided river into a safe swimming zone — without the use of chemicals like chlorine — the project blends urban innovation with environmental responsibility.
Standing beneath the towering structure on a humid Monday morning, Kara Meyer, managing director of Friends of +POOL, took a moment to absorb the milestone.
“This is our land acquisition,” Meyer said.
“This is a pilot facility that will be the first water-filtering, floating swimming pool.”
The plan is ambitious. Over the coming months, the team behind +POOL will line the steel shell with a pool liner, construct a deck and bathrooms on top, and install intricate filtration and mechanical systems underneath. Once complete, the pilot pool will be launched near Pier 35, providing the public with a safe way to swim in river water — something most New Yorkers have never had the opportunity to experience.
While the pool’s debut was initially targeted for this summer, delays tied to permitting and technical requirements forced the team to adjust timelines. In 2023, they tested a scaled-down version of the filtration system aboard a barge in the East River. But to receive approval from city and state agencies, the team needed to test the system on a larger scale.
This is where the newly arrived rectangular structure comes in. Though it’s only about a fourth of the size of the originally planned plus-sign-shaped pool, the modified version will serve as a critical proof-of-concept. It will allow the team to gather necessary performance data, simulate operations, and engage the community.
“This will allow us a great opportunity to pilot the operations and programming in collaboration with the community,” Meyer said.
“It can exist until we are able to raise the funds and build the full +POOL.”
The +POOL project isn’t merely about building a floating pool. At its heart is an innovative, chemical-free filtration system designed to clean river water to safe swimming standards. The system first passes East River water through multiple strainers to remove debris and particles. It then uses UV light to disinfect the water, removing harmful bacteria and ensuring clarity.
Daniel Rosenberger, a civil engineer with ARUP — the global firm overseeing the design and filtration system — explained the underlying vision of the engineering effort.
“The concept overall is that it’s a natural swimming body,” Rosenberger said.
“So it will give the experience of swimming in the East River, but in a safe, controlled way for patrons.”
Once filtered, the water will flow into the pool and later circulate back into the river, forming a sustainable loop that maintains water quality while showcasing a new form of ecological public space.
The +POOL project comes at a time when cities around the world are exploring ways to reconnect residents with natural waterways. From Paris to Rotterdam, urban swimming in formerly off-limits rivers and canals has seen a renaissance, driven by better environmental practices and a push for more equitable access to nature.
New York, despite having miles of waterfront and iconic rivers, has remained mostly off-limits for swimming — even as water quality has steadily improved over the decades. The +POOL team believes that this project could change both perception and policy.
“Once it’s a public amenity, the public will really understand the value of protecting our waterways and keeping them clean,” Meyer said.
Local community leaders have echoed similar sentiments. Trever Holland, co-founder of Friends of Pier 35 and chair of Manhattan Community Board 3’s Parks, Recreation, Resiliency and Waterfront Committee, highlighted the personal and social significance of the project.
“Kids can see the water, but they can’t get into it,” Holland said.
“It also gives us a bigger conversation about access to the waterfront, not just for one site, but for the entire waterfront.”
As New York looks ahead to warmer summers, increasing demand for public space, and deeper commitments to sustainability, the +POOL project stands as a bold experiment. Whether it becomes a permanent fixture or sparks broader change, one thing is clear: a steel structure floating quietly in a Brooklyn shipyard may soon make a splash no one will forget.
As the steel shell of Plus Pool rests in Red Hook, anticipation flows through the city like the East River itself. What began as an ambitious concept now stands as a near-tangible promise—one that blends engineering, ecology, and public access. While the iconic plus-shaped design remains a future goal, this rectangular pilot marks a decisive step toward turning river water into a safe, swimmable experience. If successful, Plus Pool may not only redefine urban swimming in New York City but also inspire a global model for reclaiming and reimagining natural waterways.
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