New York, NY –
Swimming classes start this week at New York City public pools. The city Department of Parks & Recreation’s free "Learn to Swim" classes are open to children and adults at 35 of the city's 54 pools. The first round of classes begins Wednesday after Tuesday’s registration period.
Deputy Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey says recent drowning incidents involving local teens should serve as a warning. "We're a city literally surrounded by water, and I think we all should be making an effort to teach young people how to swim," Jeffrey said, adding that no one should go into pools and oceans without a lifeguard present.
Jeffrey says the city's Learn to Swim program has expanded over the past decade from serving about 6,000 kids per year to 27,000. Eventually, he says the city would like to teach every second grader how to swim, but that would involve 70,000 children, and the funding isn't there yet.
To register for free swimming classes, click here.
Beth Fertig is WNYC’s Contributing Editor for Education. She previously covered politics, which included City Hall during the Giuliani administration, and the U.S. Senate campaigns of Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton. She also covered transportation and infrastructure.
Comments [2]
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