Construction Begins on NYC’s Long-Awaited Floating + Pool

More than a decade after the concept was first introduced—facing numerous setbacks and delays—the innovative vision of a floating public pool that filters river water in New York City is finally becoming a reality.

A Versatile Design for All Swimmers

Called + Pool, this unique swimming facility is being built in the East River and will be accessible via a walkway extending from the shore. Designed with a cross-like shape, it offers flexible usage: one section can serve as a kiddie pool, another for lounging, and the others for swimming laps or engaging in water sports.Users can also combine all areas for larger activities.

A standout feature of + Pool is its self-cleaning system, intended to purify the East River’s water for safe swimming—completely chemical-free.The pool will rely on a combination of technologies—such as UV lighting, membrane filtration, and strainers—instead of using additives, although the team hasn’t yet released the full technical breakdown.

Prototype First, Full Scale Later

While planners envision the full-scale pool spanning 9,000 square feet (approximately 830 square meters), builders are currently constructing a 2,000-square-foot (185-square-meter) prototype.Built on a floating barge, this trial unit aims to demonstrate the concept’s effectiveness and feasibility. Workers are currently assembling the barge in Mississippi and will transport it to New York’s Pier 35.

Friends of + Pool announced in a press release that Bollinger Shipyard in Mississippi has completed the custom barge. This June, crews will dry-tow it to New York on an ABS-certified transport vessel, where they plan to convert it into the world’s first river-water-filtering floating pool—pending final approval from health authorities.The three-week journey will pass through the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, and up the eastern U.S. coastline before reaching its final destination in NYC.

Initially, plans had the public enjoying the pool by mid-2025, but updated timelines suggest testing will begin in May 2026.Authorities expect to open the pool to the public sometime after that—so you might want to hold off on buying that new swimsuit for now.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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