Letter to Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa Re: Red Hook Pool Closure

Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
830 Fifth Ave
New York, NY, 10065

Dear Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa,

I’m writing to express serious concern about the abrupt and extended closure of Red Hook Pool, and to request information needed to hold the City accountable for reopening the pool as quickly as possible. Heat waves began earlier than usual this year, resulting in dangerous temperatures across the five boroughs. The heat index is projected to soar above 100°F again this week—another reminder of our sweltering new normal as the climate continues to warm. Each year, 580 New Yorkers die of heat-related causes. Pools play an indispensable role in keeping New Yorkers cool.

The administration’s sudden announcement that the Red Hook Pool would remain closed for most of the season, with no notice to residents who rely on the pool as a critical lifeline on hot summer days, is extremely concerning. Residents also remain concerned about pool access in the summers to come as the Red Hook Pool and Recreation Center undergo planned renovations.

We recognize that aging infrastructure can fail unexpectedly, and we support the Department’s proactive efforts to modernize our public pools to ensure the highest quality service. However, it is equally important that residents are kept informed when failures occur and provided with viable alternatives during any service disruptions. To ensure public transparency on the status of the Red Hook Pool, my office respectfully requests the following information:

• What is the anticipated date for reopening the Red Hook Pool this summer?
• What is the Parks Department doing to speed up the timeline for repairing the disintegrated pipe?
• Prior to discovering the broken pipe days before the pool was slated to open, what steps did the Parks Department take to inspect and assess the state of good repair for the Red Hook Pool?
• Many of our City’s other pools are not easily accessible to Red Hook residents. Does the City have any plans to provide shuttle service or other transportation assistance to alternative pools while the Red Hook Pool is closed? If yes, what is planned and when will those additional transportation options be made available?
• What short-term relief can the City provide to Red Hook residents to access mobile pools or other alternatives while the Red Hook Pool is closed?
• What is the current design and construction timeline of the Red Hook Pool and Recreation Center reconstruction project? When and for how long is the pool expected to be closed during the renovation process? When is the reconstruction project expected to be complete?
• What public engagement opportunities will there be for residents to provide input on the design of the new pool and recreation center?

Thank you for your attention to this important issue. We look forward to your prompt response and stand ready to assist in any way to restore this critical resource to the Red Hook community. We respectfully ask for an answer to these questions within one week of receipt.

Sincerely,

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander