According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for Americans 24 years old and younger.  And not all young Americans are at equal risk of drowning.  CDC data shows that young Black adolescents are more than three times as likely to drown as their white peers.  And Blacks under 30 are 1.5 times more likely to die from drowning than whites.  

In  a July 2023 Opinion piece in the New York Times, columnist Mara Gay wrote, “The biggest reason so many Americans can’t swim is that they have too few places to learn to do so.”

“Public pools,” Gay continued, “can be the safest places to swim. They are more likely to be better maintained and importantly, staffed by lifeguards. Many provide free or low-cost swim lessons, something millions of Americans couldn’t otherwise afford. They give kids a safe place to play.”  They also give kids a place to learn to be lifeguards, so they can save not only their own lives, but the lives of others.

New Rochelle has one public pool, located in the heart of the city’s Black community in Lincoln Park.  But the city’s bureaucracy has made it difficult for local kids to swim there.  To swim at Lincoln Park, city residents must have a pool pass.  And the city has made getting a pass an often impossible challenge.

According to the city’s website, “To obtain a photo ID pass, all residents ages 18+ must show 2 current forms of proof of New Rochelle residency (current driver’s license, current utility bill). For children ages 6 through 17, we must see the latest school report card as proof of residency. Pool passes are only available at the Parks and Recreation office Monday through Friday 8:30 to 4:00.”

For working families, that means someone must take time off from work to get a pass. And during the week, the pool closes at 6pm, before most working adults return home from their jobs. 

It’s much easier to get a pass for the City’s tennis courts.  Residents can get a tennis court pass and renew it annually in person or via email.  Guest passes are available for tennis, but not for Lincoln Pool. 

Why would the city make it easy for young tennis players to gain access to its public tennis courts, but almost impossible for children in some working families to have a place to swim?  New RoAR News asked  city officials to explain this disparity but got no response.

There are no other public pools in the city, although there was once one at City Park that was buried in the late 1980’s. There are two public parks with swimming areas, Hudson Park and Glen Island, but they are hard to reach without a car . Using public transportation, both parks require a roughly 40-minute bus ride, with fares of $2.75 for adults and children over 42 inches tall. 

Beach access at Hudson Park is free for New Rochelle residents with park passes, but passes cost $40 per adult per year.  A park pass includes free parking, while those without passes must pay $5.00 to park. Passes are available at City Hall and online. 

City residents can get  a discount on parking and beach fees at Glen Island if they have a County park pass, which costs $90.00 for three years (less for senior citizens, who can obtain a one year pass for $15).  Non-pass holders pay $10 to park and $10 to go to the beach. County passes are available in person at most parks.  

There are also County pools in Mount Vernon and White Plains, accessible by bus in 30 minutes to an hour, but combined bus fees and/or parking and entrance fees can be costly. The YMCA on Weyman Avenue also has a pool, but a family membership costs $70-$80 per month, though financial assistance may be available to some.  

In 2021, Hurricane Ida forced the closure of the New Rochelle High School pool, which has yet to re-open. Per the School District’s May 22, 2025, newsletter, there are funds for repairs in the budget, but a plan to ensure that there is no further flooding has not yet been finalized.

The Queen City prides itself on its shoreline, with a website that boasts of a waterfront “abundantly blessed with both unsurpassed beauty and public accessibility.” Yet New Rochelle has an entire population with minimal opportunities to cool off in hot weather or learn to swim.  

By contrast, those living in the more suburban neighborhoods of New Rochelle, or those whose financial means permit, have plenty of opportunities to swim, take swimming lessons, and join swim teams. There are several beach clubs along Davenport Avenue, and private swim clubs in the North end of town. And now a number of the new downtown apartment buildings and two downtown hotels have pools.  But none of these beach clubs or downtown pools are open to the general public.

Concerned residents have suggested that New Rochelle take advantage of these resources through a partnership arrangement that would open private downtown pools to the public several hours a day. Often these lovely pools are underutilized, and many are indoors, offering the possibility of year-round programming.  

There’s no question it would cost money and require some thoughtful negotiating. But concerned residents say it would be more cost efficient to hire a program director and some lifeguards than to build another pool. It would also be a way for developers to give back to the city.  

At the least, the city should be able to find a way to make its one public pool more easily accessible to neighborhood kids.

Swimming is great exercise, and it’s fun.  And more access to pools would have the added benefit of saving lives.