Plus Pool Explained

Plus Pool
Commercial:No
Type:Public swimming pool
Location:East River, New York City
Founder:Dong-Ping Wong, Oana Stănescu, Archie Lee Coates IV, Jeffrey Franklin[1]
Date Of Establishment:June 2010
Funding:New York State, Crowdfunded via Kickstarter
Launch Place:Manhattan - Lower East Side - Pier 35
Launch Date:2025

Plus Pool (often stylized as "+ POOL") is an initiative started in 2010 to create an innovative, floating swimming pool on the East River in New York City. Architect Dong-Ping Wong developed the concept of a floating pool that would filter river water to supply clean water for the pool. The pool is planned to be located at Pier 35 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Concept

Plus Pool was designed to clean the waters of the East River and provide a public space for water-based recreation.[2] The pool's name comes from the fact that it would be shaped like a plus sign. The original design called for four separate pools (lounge, kids', watersports, and lap-swimming pools) that combine to create a pool with several lap lanes.[3]

Prior to Plus Pool, New York City has had many 'floating baths' moored along the Hudson and East Rivers. A floating pool known as the 'Floating Pool Lady was created at Brooklyn Bridge Park in 2007 and continues to operate in Barretto Point Park in the Bronx. [4] [5] [6]

Plus Pool was designed to filter up to one million gallons of river water daily directly from the East River through its unique custom, chemical-free, layered filtration system.[7] [8] Over 250,000 gallons of the river water surrounding the pool will become safe, clean, filtered water used to fill the pool.[9] The pool was designed to contain 285500gal of water and to filter from 600000gal up to 1000000gal per day.[10] [11] [12]

History

2010 to 2013

In 2010, Dong-Ping Wong of Family New York (now known as Food New York) designed a plus-shaped floating pool with the idea that it could filter river water through its walls. He asked Jeffrey Franklin and Archie Lee Coates IV of PlayLab to initially help create a website and booklet to raise support for the project and soon the three decided to be co-founders. Family New York led the strategy, architecture, and engineering while PlayLab led the branding and communication. In 2011, the two companies began a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise money for Plus Pool, an innovative pool design, utilizing a custom filtering system as a clean water source for a floating pool on the East River.

In July 2011, the team raised over $41,000 on Kickstarter to test filtration materials using water from the East River.[13] Originally, the goal was to raise $15 million to fund a completely functioning pool by 2016.[14] [15]

2013–present

In July 2013, with the help of a feasibility study by Columbia University, over a quarter million dollars was raised to build a 35ft2 miniature version of the floating pool.[16] [17] The "test lab" was a working prototype to analyze its effectiveness in river conditions. Since its inception, several independent companies have participated in the project, including the engineering firm, Arup,[18] design firm IDEO, environmental consultants from One Nature, and Storefront for Art and Architecture.[19] [20] The project also garnered interest from government officials, notably New York State Senator Daniel Squadron and New York City Council Member Brad Lander.[21] [22] In November 2013, Time magazine named Plus Pool one of the 25 best inventions of the year 2013.[23]

In 2015, a nonprofit organization known as Friends of +Pool was created to oversee the pool's development.[24] Plus Pool was originally projected to open by the summer of 2016, but the project saw little development then.

In 2017, Plus Pool formed a partnership with the Heineken brewing company. The team created a promotional video for Plus Pool, narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, to revitalize public interest in the project.[25] [26] The pool's sponsors also applied for a provisional patent in 2017 and an international patent the next year.

In 2019, the founders of Plus Pool introduced a light sculpture in the East River. Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Heineken, and the Howard Hughes Corporation, the sculpture changes colors based on water conditions. The system and algorithm behind it were developed by scientists at Columbia University and developers and designers at the tech firm Reaktor.[27]

In 2021, New York City approved a location for Plus Pool just north of the Manhattan Bridge on the Lower East Side. The team proceeded to work on regulatory thresholds for the river and pool bathers.[28]

On January 5, 2024, New York Governor, Kathy Hochul announced that a joint effort by the state and New York City would fund a combined $16 million to the Plus Pool project as part of the governor's NY SWIMS initiative.[29] Testing of the filtration system began in August 2024 on a barge at Pier 35.[30]

In 2025, a 320 ton, rectangular version of the pool, about one-fourth of the full size pool began construction at Pier 35. The larger size pool was installed to complete the testing of the filtration system and obtain city and state permits. The intent is to have the rectangular pool up and running and open to the public in 2026. It will remain in operation until it is replaced by the full scale version.[31] [32] [33]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: +POOL Team . +POOL . November 13, 2013.
  2. News: Matarese . Jennifer . July 6, 2011 . Designers plan floating pool for East or Hudson River . . June 25, 2013 . June 17, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130617051422/http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fnew_york&id=8235696 . live.
  3. Web site: Towey . Hannah . January 19, 2024 . A New Floating Pool Will Reclaim NYC's Rivers For Public Swimming . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240727111020/https://www.cntraveler.com/story/nyc-river-floating-pool . July 27, 2024 . August 19, 2024 . Condé Nast Traveler.
  4. Web site: Swanson . Carl . May 7, 2021 . First Look: The Plus Pool's Future East River Home . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819162505/https://www.curbed.com/2021/05/first-look-plus-pool-east-river.html . August 19, 2024 . August 19, 2024 . Curbed.
  5. Web site: Weaver . Shaye . June 4, 2021 . NYC's only floating pool is back in the East River for the summer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211026044208/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/nycs-only-floating-pool-is-back-in-the-east-river-for-the-summer-060421 . October 26, 2021 . August 19, 2024 . Time Out New York.
  6. Web site: Chan . Sewell . 2007-07-05 . A Short History of Brooklyn's Floating Pool . 2024-08-19 . City Room . en.
  7. Web site: Willett-Wei . Megan . June 17, 2013 . A Floating Pool In New York's East River Is Getting Closer To Reality . . June 25, 2013.
  8. Web site: January 19, 2024 . A New Floating Pool Will Reclaim NYC's Rivers For Public Swimming . April 23, 2024 . Condé Nast Traveler . en-US . April 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240422230811/https://www.cntraveler.com/story/nyc-river-floating-pool . live .
  9. News: Griffith . Eric . June 21, 2013 . Kickstarter Tech Project of the Week: +POOL . . June 25, 2013.
  10. Web site: Barandy . Kat . August 9, 2024 . New York City's Self-filtering +Pool to Open at Pier 35 Near Lower East Side Manhattan . August 19, 2024 . designboom . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815092240/https://www.designboom.com/technology/plus-pool-new-york-city-self-filtering-east-river-water-01-08-2024/ . live .
  11. Web site: Palumbo . Jacqui . August 15, 2024 . New York City is one step closer to getting its long-awaited floating East River pool . August 19, 2024 . CNN . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819162502/https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/15/style/new-york-city-plus-pool-location/index.html . live .
  12. Web site: Hills . Megan C. . May 20, 2021 . New York greenlights floating public pool on the East River . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220718121434/https://www.cnn.com/style/article/plus-pool-new-york-east-river/index.html . July 18, 2022 . July 18, 2022 . CNN . en.
  13. News: Rutkoff . Aaron . June 24, 2011 . An East River Pool? Maybe This Idea Isn't Off the Deep End . June 25, 2013 . . June 16, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130616082716/http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011/06/24/an-east-river-pool-maybe-this-idea-isnt-off-the-deep-end/?mod=WSJBlog&mod=WSJ_NY_NY_Blog . live .
  14. News: El Nasser . Haya . May 1, 2013 . Crowdfunding gives rise to projects truly in public domain . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130722192251/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/01/crowdfunding-capital-projects/2127541/ . July 22, 2013 . June 25, 2013 . USA Today.
  15. Web site: Sisak . Michael R. . April 23, 2014 . When does Plus Pool open? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140830081201/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/23/when-does-plus-pool-open_n_5197964.html . August 30, 2014 . August 12, 2014 . Huffington Post.
  16. News: Floating Pool Project Is Fully Funded And New Yorkers Everywhere Should Celebrate . . July 18, 2013 . Katherine . Brooks . July 12, 2013 . July 17, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130717052648/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/floating-pool-project-is-fully-funded_n_3587814.html? . live .
  17. Solon . Olivia . June 17, 2011 . Plus Pool: The floating swimming pool proposed for NYC's river . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130817102433/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-06/17/plus-pool . August 17, 2013 . . June 25, 2013.
  18. News: + Pool Team Starts Kickstarter Project To Make East River Floating Pool A Reality . . June 25, 2013 . Christopher . Mathias . June 16, 2011 . June 18, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130618053316/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/16/pool-team-starts-kickstar_n_878209.html . live .
  19. Web site: +Pool . . June 25, 2013 . May 25, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130525141422/http://www.storefrontnews.org/programming/events?preview=true&e=497 . live .
  20. Web site: +Pool on crowdfunding architecture . Arup Connect . . June 25, 2013 . August 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130806170018/http://www.arupconnect.com/2013/06/13/pool-on-crowdfunding-architecture/ . dead.
  21. Web site: Polsky . Sara . Brooklyn Bridge Park's Floating Pool Gets a Boost . . January 4, 2011 . June 25, 2013 . September 19, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150919065058/http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2011/01/04/brooklyn_bridge_parks_floating_pool_gets_a_boost.php . dead .
  22. Web site: +POOL Timeline . +POOL . June 25, 2013 . November 13, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113061507/http://www.pluspool.org/timeline/ . live .
  23. The 25 Best Inventions of the Year 2013 Read more: The Plus Pool . . November 17, 2013 . November 14, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131117052933/http://techland.time.com/2013/11/14/the-25-best-inventions-of-the-year-2013/slide/the-plus-pool/ . November 17, 2013 . live.
  24. Web site: Eberhardt . Ellen . January 19, 2024 . "I was frozen out" of + Pool project says architect Dong-Ping Wong . August 19, 2024 . Dezeen.
  25. Web site: New York's +POOL hopes to shore up public support with new campaign . Walker . Ameena . April 25, 2017 . . May 11, 2017 . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819162616/https://ny.curbed.com/2017/4/25/15412016/new-york-plus-pool-fundraising-campaign . dead .
  26. Web site: Warerkar . Tanay . August 4, 2017 . Neil Patrick Harris voices new +Pool hype video, and it's kind of awesome . January 10, 2024 . Curbed NY . en . January 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240110125011/https://ny.curbed.com/2017/8/4/16099134/neil-patrick-harris-plus-pool . dead .
  27. News: Kurutz . Steven . October 5, 2019 . New Yorkers Will Have to Wait for an East River Pool (Published 2019) . en-US . The New York Times . November 10, 2020 . 0362-4331.
  28. Web site: Gleason . Will . This spectacular floating pool now has a home in the East River . . May 10, 2021 . en-US . May 10, 2021 . May 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210510181400/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/this-spectacular-floating-pool-now-has-a-home-in-the-east-river-051021 . live .
  29. Web site: Offenhartz . Jake . Opening in 2025: A floating pool in the East River? . NBC New York . January 6, 2024 . January 9, 2024 . January 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109032511/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/opening-in-2025-a-floating-pool-in-the-east-river/5011015/ . live . none.
    News: Meko . Hurubie . January 6, 2024 . Floating East River Pool May Open to Public Next Year Under Hochul Plan . January 9, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331. none. ; Web site: Rahmanan . Anna . January 8, 2024 . A floating pool shaped like a plus sign will actually open in the East River in 2025 . January 30, 2024 . Time Out New York . en-US . January 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240130022054/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/a-floating-pool-shaped-like-a-plus-sign-is-opening-in-a-nyc-river-in-2025-010824 . live . none. ; Web site: NYC floating pool: State-of-the-art water facility coming to East River's Pier 35 in Manhattan . ABC7 New York . August 9, 2024 . August 10, 2024 . August 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240810013516/https://abc7ny.com/post/nyc-floating-pool-state-art-water-facility-coming-east-rivers-pier-35-manhattan/15164538/ . live . none. ; Web site: Stark-Miller . Ethan . Manhattan's Pier 35 chosen as location for long-awaited plus-shaped East River swimming pool . amNewYork . August 7, 2024 . August 10, 2024 . August 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819164219/https://www.amny.com/politics/manhattan-pier-35-east-river-floating-pool/ . live . none. ; Web site: Palumbo . Jacqui . 2024-08-15 . New York City is one step closer to getting its long-awaited floating East River pool . 2024-09-06 . CNN . en.
  30. Web site: August 9, 2024 . NYC floating pool: State-of-the-art water facility coming to East River's Pier 35 in Manhattan . June 14, 2025 . ABC7 New York . none.
    Web site: Escallón . Sandra . August 7, 2024 . New York plans to put a floating pool in the East River . June 14, 2025 . NBC New York . none. ; Web site: Honan . Katie . August 7, 2024 . Upon the River: Floating Pool Nears Testing Stage . June 14, 2025 . THE CITY - NYC News . none. ; Web site: Liotta . Paul . August 7, 2024 . NYC testing water in the East River to use in city’s first massive floating pool . June 14, 2025 . silive.
  31. Web site: Walsh . Niall Patrick . June 13, 2025 . Construction begins on +POOL in New York City . June 14, 2025 . Archinect.
  32. Web site: Maldonado . Samantha . July 14, 2025 . Plus Pool Finally Lands in NYC, Minus the Plus . July 15, 2025 . THE CITY - NYC News.
  33. Web site: Kastenbaum . Steve . 2025-08-01 . Plus Pool is hell-bent on situating a floating pool in the turbulent waters of the East River . 2025-09-06 . City & State NY . en.

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