Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatic Center — Restaurant in New York

After reading reviews I decided to take a dip at Aquatic Center. The pool is a proper 25m x 50m olympic size pool divided into 3 sections transversely. The pool is deep. You cannot stand on your feet to take a break, so make sure to properly assess your skill and be in the right section and lane. The deeper end (12') is reserved for the aquatic team and the shallower end (3'7") is for classes. The middle section (7'6") is for lap swim. If there is no class, you are allow to exercise and walk around in the shallow end section. If you are coming with young children who cannot swim or do laps, make sure it's the right time of the day for that section to be open.

I went during the week before lunch time in January. There were 3-5 people in each lane, mostly Asian retirees. You need to match the speed with others to circle swim. I felt someone's hand a few times, but that is probably because I'm in the slow lane with novice swimmers. Not big deal. For me the temperature of the pool felt warm, but this is subjective. In comparison, most athletic pools with faster swimmers in upscale gyms are normally much colder. If you are a leisure swimmer who likes to go slow and float around at home or hotel pools, this pool may feel a tiny bit colder.

The locker room was not that small, but the layout is tight. The width between lockers facing each other was less than my wingspan (5'). I could see how it may get claustrophobic in peak time. There are 3 different sizes of lockers: about 1ft, 2ft, and 4 ft of height. There are some cosmetic wear and tear showing as in most public facilities. It's not Equinox for sure. I would say the cleanliness is about a decent campground shower rooms. Shower was warm but not able to change the flow or head direction. I rinse, towel dry and get out. Keep your expectation low and you will be happy.

People were using the pool and the locker room respectfully, which I liked. Staff were pleasant and so were the other members. There are plenty of parking spaces, and the access is easy from the subway & LIRR stations. Overall the experience is positive and I would definitely come back.

Must haves: 1 lock for the locker Sandals / flipflops Swimsuits, hat, goggles, towel.

Good to haves and tips: See pool schedule and avoid peak time. Be minimalist: keep your belongings compact in case you only get a small locker. Waterproof bag to keep your wet swimsuits. There is no swimsuit water extractor. In winter a warm hat or something to keep you warm with wet hair after the swim. There is no hair dryer. I have very short hair and was able to dry it under hand drier. There are two outlets though (not sure if they work). Personal swim training goods: kickboard, hand paddles, short training fins, etc. They seemed to be allowed as long as not disturbing...

I’m always impressed by this place. $75 for six months of unlimited pool access is a great deal in the city, so there’s really no reason to complain.

Yet, after 31 years of swimming in pools around the world, I’ve seen some curious things here.

Let’s start at the beginning.

The parking is shared with the park, and while it’s often under the bridge where birds perch, you can usually find a spot. Sure, you might encounter a bit of mess from the birds, but that’s just part of the charm of city life.

At the entrance, one staff member always asks me for my lock — just me, it seems. No one else is ever asked. In most modern facilities, even those with lower fees, lockers come with built-in mechanical or electronic locks, so carrying your own isn’t necessary. But here, it’s a bit different.

The changing rooms are another story. There’s no clear separation between the clean and dirty zones, so on rainy days, people bring their muddy shoes right up to the lockers, mingling with those in clean, wet flip-flops. It’s not ideal, especially when your towel or clothes might brush against the floor, but it could be easily fixed. Though I’ve never seen a cleaning staff member there, that’s probably just coincidence.

The lockers themselves aren’t always spotless. A layer of dust often covers the tops, and it’s best not to place anything on them. Still, there’s a bench — though it’s one bench for 20-30 lockers, so I’ve learned to make do.

Then there are the showers. The water only runs for 30 seconds at a time, and you have to press the button again to keep it flowing. The walls? Often covered in clumps of hair, as if people are getting haircuts in there.

The pool itself is decent, with three lanes and designated speeds — slow, medium, and fast. However, the “fast” lane is usually occupied by elderly swimmers who take their time. I admire their dedication to fitness, but it makes training a bit tricky when you’re constantly having to pass them, likely causing some discomfort for everyone involved. The lifeguards don’t seem too interested in sorting it out.

And, of course, it’s hard to swim a lap without spotting a stray band-aid or, yes, more hair on the bottom of the pool.

Still, this is the best pool in the area. With just a few improvements, it could easily become a place that truly respects itself and its guests. Would you...

I was LITERALLY almost brutally attacked by 2 female workers who were cleaning the women's locker room. I love this facility because the pool is AMAZING! Swimming is my passion. But after last night, I'm terrified to go back for my safety due to 2 workers who are very angry that they have that job. A friend and I were getting ready to leave and go home, closer to 10, which we were unaware. Instead of being civil human beings and explaining to us the facility was closed, we were screamed at to "get out", "time to go" numerous times. At one point one of these 'uneducated female worker' started screaming like a child "I want to go homeeeeee". I've never experienced trashy behavior like this ever. She was also screaming so hard and coming towards my face to attack me at one point. But thankfully, but strangely, a male security ended up being in the women's locker room to hold her back. If I would have been touched, this would have been a MASSIVE problem. Now I am scared to even go back, how is that fair!!!!! I know NYC gov is famous for hiring ghetto, violent, non customer friendly workers, but this took the cake. UNACCEPTABLE. Cannot believe a male security had to hold back a worker from...