HOBOKEN, N.J. — The city of Hoboken still doesn't have its own swimming pool, despite decades of promises to its citizens. As we approach another summer without public pools, residents are once again asking questions about swimming and youth lesson options.
“My child won't die if he doesn't learn basketball,” a local mother said last month. “But when children don't learn to swim, the consequences can be deadly. Every year, children die in oceans, rivers and lakes because they don't learn to swim.”
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Other towns have begun offering affordable recreational swimming lessons during the summer. After a Maplewood teen died in a school pool, two New Jersey educators wrote in a 2022 opinion piece that urban areas should seek affordable ways to teach teens how to swim. I wrote that I needed to find a place and a way to do it at a reasonable price. They noted that the student who drowned was due to start his senior year of high school in two weeks.
Will this be the summer Hoboken makes it happen?
City spokeswoman Marilyn Baer said an announcement regarding access to local pools will be made soon.
“The Recreation Department will once again be working with Stevens Institute of Technology and the Hoboken Public School District to provide pool access for our residents,” Baer said Friday. “The city is finalizing details and expects to announce them in the coming weeks.”
Aside from using local school pools in the summer, what about plans for Hoboken's own pool?
Baer said the city is moving forward with a proposal to include a pool at the multi-service center complex at 124 Grand St. There is no schedule yet for the final design.
“The city conducted a public planning process last year to redesign the multi-service center and developed three concepts based on public feedback,” she said. “It will include a new senior center, swimming pool, community gathering space, gymnasium, hockey rink,” pickleball courts, etc. A city consultant used her feedback to create a final concept design. The proposal will ultimately be submitted to the City Council. ”
One Hoboken school mother said she hopes the city finds a way to reach kids who aren't yet learning to swim.
“Swimming is an important skill and not having easy access to lessons puts our youth at risk,” she said. “In a city with so many other amenities, it is a reasonable expectation to finally achieve a goal that has been promised but unfulfilled…Multi-service centers are exciting, but What do we do in the meantime?”
Weehawken announces opening date
Among the available aquatics facilities, the Weehawken Pool Complex, built in part with state funds, must be accessible to all New Jersey residents with an admission fee. The pool is located a 2.4 mile walk along the river from Hoboken.
Last year, the aquatics facility began allowing people outside of Weehawken to purchase season passes. This year, in compliance with state law, a limited number of day passes will also be offered.
For Weehawken residents, 2024 season passes are $125 for the first adult in the household, $75 for the second, and free for children 18 and under.
For outside residents, the first adult pays $250, the second adult pays $150, and children 18 and under in the same household are free.
The complex will be open over Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 25th through Monday, May 27th. The pool will only be open on weekends for the next few weeks when school is in session. It will then resume daily use on June 22nd.
Labor Day marks the final day of the season.
Learn more about the 2024 Weehawken pool complex here.
