Image credit: NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.
On February 27, 2023, Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue joined elected officials, community board representatives and community members to celebrate the reopening of the Flushing Meadows Aquatics Center, located near the intersection of Meridian Road and East Road in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.
The Flushing Meadows Aquatic Center, the largest recreation center built in a New York City park, has an Olympic-sized swimming pool with an adjustable floor and diving tank for competitions. The 110,000-square-foot facility also contains a year-round NHL-regulation hockey rink. The facility closed in January 2020 for emergency netting installation on the interior roof and to repair the pool floor. The pandemic delayed the repairs and reopening.
The facility provides pool access to Central Queens. As part of the reopening, the Parks Department is launching two new aquatics classes, including a Swim Instruction Program for Water Safety Instructors and Youth and Adult Hydro-Fit, a competitive swim training and conditioning class. Other swim classes will also return including Learn to Swim, Youth Swim Teams, Adult and Senior Water Aerobics, and Swim for Life.
An additional project to repair and upgrade the facility’s roof will start in 2025.
Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue stated, “We are beyond excited to reopen this beloved Aquatics Center to the community, a true focal point for water education, swim training, and exercise for many Queens swimmers. In addition to the work done on the facility to increase the Center’s longevity, programming here will be better than ever — as part of the reopening, five swim classes are returning, and we’re even introducing two new classes for the first time ever.”
Council Member Sandra Ung stated, “Since taking office, I have heard from numerous constituents wondering if and when the Aquatics Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park would reopen to the public. While I know it has been frustrating for them to be without this swimming pool for so long, I am happy the Parks Department is finally able to reopen it. Not only is this one of only two public indoor swimming pools in the borough, it is also right in the heart of several different immigrant communities. I look forward to welcoming swimmers both young and old back to this world-class amenity, not just so they have a place to swim and exercise, but to take advantage of all of the great programs that drew approximately 350,000 visitors a year before it was forced to close.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)