We want to make Prospect Park Lake swimmable
New York City is surrounded by water, yet there isn't a single freshwater lake or pond where the public can safely swim. Prospect Swims is an emerging community initiative exploring whether part of Prospect Park Lake could one day support managed, safe freshwater swimming.
The lake is a 60 acre artificial water body that currently faces significant challenges, including seasonal harmful algal blooms, complex hydrology, and elevated bacteria levels. However, its centrality in Brooklyn and ecological potential create an unusual opportunity. Our immediate aim is to outline feasible pathways to clarify what is technically possible, what the constraints are, and what is required for any future decision making.
In a city with deep disparities in swimming skills and access, and growing climate risks from extreme heat, creating a safe freshwater swimming resource would provide an inclusive, free way to cool down, support youth development, and improve community wellbeing.
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What We Have Been Up To
October 3, 2026
Prospect Swims Featured in the Grand Army Gazette
The Grand Army Gazette recently covered our ongoing efforts to explore making Prospect Park Lake swimmable. The article highlighted our recent community walking tour and our commitment to understanding both the necessary science and city regulations. It was wonderful to share our long term vision of one day swimming in the lake.
September 30, 2026
Water Quality Testing Concludes for the Season
Our dedicated volunteers officially wrapped up our weekly baseline water quality testing for the season. Throughout the summer, we actively monitored Enterococcus, E coli, and microcystin levels across the lake to better understand its ecological health and pollution sources. We are currently compiling this open source data to share with the public and help inform our strategic next steps for the initiative.
September 24, 2026
Inaugural Watercourse Walking Tour
We hosted our very first community walking tour of the Prospect Park watercourse, beginning at the Dog Beach. It was wonderful to see a strong showing of new neighbors and advocates excited to explore the ecology of the lake and discuss its future potential.
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Our Guiding Principles
1
Ask with Rigor and Imagination. We believe exploring a swimmable Prospect Park Lake requires a balance of discipline and creativity. A lake currently struggling with water quality could become a model for urban freshwater restoration that serves multiple generations.
2
Center the Community and the Evidence. Success means being clear about costs, risks, and tradeoffs. It means engaging the community to shape the vision and being willing to conclude that swimming is not viable if the evidence points that way.
3
Prioritize Access and Resilience. A swimmable lake must serve the people who need it most. This means focusing on communities that lack access to safe swimming and those most vulnerable to climate risks like extreme heat. Any future swimming space must be culturally responsive to the breadth of neighborhoods surrounding the park.