Astoria Pool — Attraction in New York

I just came from this pool. It was my first time going in. I went in with my daughter. My attempt to enter this pool was comparable to going thru TSA at an airport. First, from the parking lot path leading to the pool, there is no signage as to the entrance. We had to circle quite a bit to find it. Then we’re told we cannot go in without a locker. I bought the damn locker. Then no food and drinks allowed, fine, understandable. I asked the lady before entering where the lockers were. She just pointed inside and continued invested in listening to whatever conversation her coworkers were having. God forbid she misses anything. I head in and I see an entrance to the pool. I go thru and I’m about to try to set things down but I realize I don’t see the lockers anywhere so I go back out thru the door. There are at least 4 people in the NYC Parks tshirts. One of them, a woman, is sitting on the bench next to the pool entrance door, sleeping, mouth open, knocked out. Two other workers at a help desk just chatting away until I finally interject to ask where the lockers are. I finally go thru an entryway with two paths. I enter and I finally see lockers. I put all my stuff in the locker, spray my daughter with sunblock and myself, take my phone with me and the locker key. As I start heading back out, one of the workers tells me to go thru a different door. I follow instructions. Same difference, but fine. I try to go thru the pool entrance door but now the lady has woken up and insists that I go back thru the locker room and that the entrance is that way instead. I go back in, annoyed at this point and the same worker that was in the locker room before, now tells me I can’t go in with my phone. I’m pissed, but I go and put it in the locker. No photos of my daughter in her new mermaid bathing suit. Fine. I start walking and confirm with her where the entrance is. She stops me and tells me I can’t go in with the shoes I have on. Omg at this point I just want to turn around and leave. These people cannot give clear instructions to save their lives. I once again open the locker and had to put my shoes away. That floor was disgusting. Mind you, I had ZERO intention of getting into the pool. So now my feet are walking on this slimy wet floor (sensory issues are triggered) and my daughter is holding my hand so I don’t slip. As I’m about to exit, another lady stops me and tells me I have to shower. Not just my daughter, but me too. I know showers are a standard protocol for pools, but I really did not have any intention of getting wet. I’m having the worst time at this point and it’s been 30 mins or so since we found the pool entryway. We shower and start heading out. The worker looks at me weird, stops me and asks me and my daughter to shake our towels. Sigh. We are finally let in. No umbrellas near the kids side of the pool so I was burning. Annoyed, headached, lightheaded, and snacky. I saw a snack shop I think? But without my phone I couldn’t make any purchases so I just found shade somewhere and stood there just watching my daughter from a far have fun. She was in the pool for 30 mins before the pool closed for the lifeguards to have their 1.25hr break. We’re supposed to just chill outside and wait???? I had no idea they did this. I had also looked at the website too and never came across this info. The pool itself was nice and it wasn’t at all packed, thankfully. But horrible experience overall. I have a migraine just from all the interactions and micromanaged protocols, not to mention the incompetent staff. I’m NEVER...

Yesterday I was at the pool in Astoria Park. I waited in the heat for about an hour until the entrance started at 11 am, which makes no sense to open at this time when people should be inside. I suggest that the pools should be open at 9 am and not at 11 am. This is not enough. There was a lack of personnel inside after we were informed that some lifeguards would come later. Hundreds of people entered, men, women, children, and strangely two parts of the pool were open. The part for adults and swimmers and another part where hundreds of vacationers were bathing 50 centimeters away from each other. We contacted the person in charge of the pool and in a serious tone he was annoyed by the question and the suggestion we gave him. Why were there 4 lifeguards for adults and 4 for the rest when they could have left 3 for adults who know how to swim who don't need so many lifeguards and put two of them in one of the two empty compartments??? At 12.30 another section opened. At 2.45pm they took us out because the lifeguards had their break time. What's the point of this??? At the height of the heat, you take people out??? Are you still continuing with outdated and meaningless rules?? Okay, we went out and waited in line again to enter at 4pm because that's what we were told. The line of children, women, girls, men, families, etc. etc. was so long that you can't imagine. The line started from the pool door, continued up the stairs and to the parking lot near the football field, the road was full of people trying to get into the pool and cool off a little. The entrance started at 5pm. Do you understand how poorly organized?? Scandalous?? with rude staff and boss???? I don't understand how people who have no idea how to organize work in such cases can manage??? THIS IS INCOMPETENCE. Please take measures to treat vacationers with respect and keep the pool open at least from 9am to 7pm. I hope the pool management changes and hires dedicated and responsible people who don't let vacationers down with their actions...

People often follow the rules but staff needs to be managed better.

On July 10th, 2024 at about 2 pm, a child was non responsive, the mother carried her child HALF WAY through the pool, SCREAMING: HE(MY CHILD) ISN'T RESPONDING. Guess what the lifeguard did, watched as everyone else watched with zero reaction. Thankfully, another parks and recreation staff member was quick to respond and was able to save the child. The following day, there was a lifeguard in that same spot and he was much more attentive. A great lesson learned from this is, NOT EVERYONE is CAPABLE of doing their job even when they are being paid. Keep your guard up and your eyes and ears on your loved ones. Toast to the attentive lifeguards & staff members jumping in at the time of need. YOU MAKE OUR TAX MONEY WORTH IT!!!! The following day, they opened up the pool at 4:30 due to some technical issue, understandable. But everyone was told to leave the pool area by 6:30 & they had everyone out of the changing/locker rooms/bathrooms by 6:45 when the pool is supposed to close at 7 pm. I understand everyone has to get home and people need to be out of the area by a certain time, but stay consistent with the hours posted online, they are there for everyone to follow. IF you want to rush us out, let us rush in, have 2 or 3 staff members check our bags rather than just 1 staff memeber. keeps the line moving fast. Community members pay a whole year worth of tax money for a seasonal activity that is TIMED. It's not a free pool, it's there because the residents of Astoria paid for it.

Some things to note: Expect a line. EVERYONE is required to have a bathing suit. Swimming diaper for kids. A sturdy lock for your locker. Food, snacks, electronic gadgets are to remain in the lockers. Water, towel, hat and a book are the only things allowed in...