Free sunscreen, floating pool proposed at quarry lake in Kingston

*The proposed floating pool at the quarry lake at the Sojourner State Park in Kingston.*

To offset the impacts of extreme weather this summer, New York State officials are offering new ways for residents to cool off – including a floating pool at a former quarry in Kingston.

As part of NY SWIMS – an acronym for the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming – the state is seeking to build out municipal pools in urban areas.

“Access to swimming isn’t just about recreation – it’s about public health and climate resiliency,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “NY SWIMS will be the largest statewide investment in swimming since the New Deal, expanding access for underserved communities and improving safety for kids across New York.”

The NY SWIMS program will offer $150 million in grant funding for local municipalities to build out 10 new public swimming pools, and “deploy pop-up above-ground pools to combat extreme heat.”

Funding will support the creation of +Pool, a swimming facility “which would float in the waters surrounding New York City,” upgrades will rehabilitate Harriman State Park’s Lake Sebago Beach, which has been closed since 2011 due to damage from Hurricane Irene.

The construction of a floating swim structure, in addition to a surrounding beach area, is also planned at the state’s newest park, the Sojourner Truth State Park in Kingston.

Free sunscreen will also be offered to families through a pilot program at state park pools.

Public information session planned

On Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 6-7:30pm via Zoom, Field Operations, the landscape architecture firm spearheading the design of the Sojourner Truth State Park project, will share their progress and vision for the park during a public informational meeting, followed by a facilitated Q&A session where attendees can contribute feedback on the project. Register via Eventbrite, here.

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