QUESTION
Has there been discussion between Parks and the Department of Education on public access to school pools outside school hours?
0:17:54
·
109 sec
The Parks Department and the Department of Education have not specifically discussed opening school pools to the public outside school hours, focusing instead on swim programming and instruction collaboration.
- The Parks Department primarily collaborates with the Department of Education on swim programming and utilizing aquatics instructors.
- Commissioner Sue Donoghue points out that questions about public access to school pools fall under the Department of Education's purview.
- Council Member Shekar Krishnan emphasizes the need for creative solutions to address water safety and swimming accessibility issues through interagency collaboration.
- The NYC Parks Department is currently using several Department of Education pools for their 'Swim for Life' program, indicating active partnership but not public access.
Shekar Krishnan
0:17:54
But has Parks and DOE ever discussed OPENING THESE POOLS FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC AT TIMES WHEN SCHOOLS ARE NOT IN SESSION?
Sue Donoghue
0:18:03
OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH DOE HAVE LARGELY BEEN AROUND PARTNERING ON providing our swim programming and using our aquatics instructors for an swim instruction.
0:18:15
And as I said, we've done that quite productively with DOE over the years.
0:18:18
In terms of opening up to the public, we've not engaged in those conversations specifically, and that would be more of a DOE question.
Shekar Krishnan
0:18:28
So I think the reason why I bring up these questions and knowing, you know, and and the city hall stated intention of interagency collaboration.
0:18:35
Here is a great opportunity, and I'm wondering how we can expand or think I think to solve the water safety and swimming crisis we have, we have to think more expansively and creatively about how we harness all the resources and and tools available.
0:18:49
You have the parks department, public pools.
0:18:53
We have the DOE school pools.
0:18:57
I was sorry.
0:18:57
I think did you have information you wanted to to share?
Sue Donoghue
0:19:00
Yeah.
0:19:00
I think, as I said, council member, we it is very close and very productive partnership with DOE and would love to tell you a little bit more what we're doing today.
Shekar Krishnan
0:19:09
Sure.
Emily Chase
0:19:11
Thank you.
0:19:13
Thank you for the question.
0:19:14
I just wanted to add to a commissioner's comment that we're currently working in several DOE pools, specifically a vendor child's and the Bronx, Faroe far, Rockaway Educational Campus in Queens, and Curtis High School in Staten Island, and that's to run our swim for life program.
0:19:33
5 days a week at Avander, 2 days a week at Far Rockaway, 2 days at Curtis High School.
0:19:38
So we are actively working with them at the moment.
Shekar Krishnan
0:19:42
That's good to hear.
0:19:42
Thank for the information.