Highbridge Pool — Attraction in New York

My days at the NYC Parks and Recs pools are behind me but I was chatting with a friend about the time I used to go to this pool. I'll say this: If it weren't for how ghetto this pool is, it would easily be my favorite NYC Parks and Rec pool.

Its a HUGE pool and unlike many other rec pools, it has a free swimming deep end that goes up to 10 feet. You don't get many pools that have a deep end like this. Its also right near the Highbridge (which is what the park and pool is named after) and its a wonderful bridge to walk. I will also say, if you can find a good time to come here on the weekday, where the temperature is mild, then you can possibly have a great swimming session. As many of the regular folks tend not to come on a day where it isn't so hot.

Otherwise, avoid this pool at all cost. UNLESS you're ghetto as hell and Dominican

SIDEBAR: I am NOT saying Dominicans in general are ghetto, I am just stating some facts. I used to come here for years and the people who get rowdy and act ghetto here tend to be overwhelmingly Dominican. Don't hit me up with any claims of being racist. Dominicans know this themselves, nothing against Dominicans, not hating just stating.

On a hot summer day, especially on a Fri-Sun, it gets packed, it gets WILD and rowdy. And please, DO NOT bring anything of value. They don't steal like they used to but back in the day, theft was a major issue here in the locker rooms. The locker rooms are a little better but the staff who don't get paid enough to give a damn whether your valuables get stolen are not. So be careful. The lines are usually ridiculously long and when you finally get in the pool, it can be hard to find a spot to put your stuff. It gets to the point where it can be overcrowded.

PROS:

-Huge pool with a free swimming deep end -Located right on Highbridge, great to get some extra exercise -On a nice, mild (80 and below) weekday, this place can be great and peaceful with little to no line

CONS: -Any day that it is hot ESPECIALLY on a weekend, it can be a hot, rowdy, ghetto mess. -If you have anything of value, LEAVE IT AT HOME or somewhere safe. Just don't bring it here unless you have someone with you whom can watch your stuff. -Lines can be LONG and by the time you get in, its so packed you don't know where to put your stuff

Overall, if it weren't for the particular young, rowdy, super ghetto demographic that comes here, this pool can be great. And it has its days that are so much better but those are generally the milder temp days. Otherwise, AVOID this pool when the temperature...

I feel I have to write this review. I visited here after my work in mid August around 6-7pm. And the way staff behaved was really racist and I feel discriminated. When I first tried to enter the entrance they just yelled at me without any guidance of where to go. They didnt instruct me where to go or which way to enter. And they said they have to open my bag and bring all stuffs out of it before I entered the changing room. They inspected all my belongings even more than they had to do and even took my swimsuit out of my bag to unfold it in the air so that everyone could see that. They didnt have to. And they took me a room (it was outdoor) for changing which was really uncomfortable and dirty. And it turned out there was indoor changing room right next to it where the other people were still using. At there I changed my clothes on cement floor alone. And when I entered the pool i put my belongings (just the key of locker and phone. I put all the other belongings in the locker) on the bench. And suddenly the staff came to me and said “if you don’t put your phone in the locker, we will kick you out” So I should go back to locker and put my phone. And I saw every one except for me had no trouble with putting their belongings on the bench. They treated me like this without any explanation and I still dont know why I had to put my phone inside the locker. They kept yelling at me and the way they behaved to me I felt somewhat discriminated and it was different compared to another people there. I was the only ASIAN at the pool but I am the neighbor here. I have a right to use public facility. Why should i be treated like that? And staffs also kept asking me question. Are you gonna swim. Why do you come here. Why should I even answer? That staff who yelled without any guidance and said she will “KICK ME OUT” had short hair and short height and brown skin. I felt harrassed and really offended by how the staffs behaved and did their WORK. I know people like them will not change their thought easily but at least people should know. This staff behaved discrimination to an...

I used to love going here as a kid but today I went thru the worse pool experience ever I understand all the of the rules of all public pools my wife was thrown out for having her phone according to pool rules there are no phone aloud on pool deck granted my issue with the rule of no phones on deck should apply for everyone life guards on there phones while on duty which would distract them saving live an doing there job adequately This rule is set mainly to stop child exploitation but how do we know that these employees are not taking pictures or videos of people that visit this pool everyday I file a complaint with the parks department an for the sergeant that was on duty on the pool deck conducted her self very poorly an unprofessional me an my wife will be filing a lawsuit against...