Our pool temperature is kept at a warm 86-88 degrees, perfect for young children and families.

We offer spacious locker rooms with individual changing stalls. Lockers are available for use (please bring your own lock). We do not provide locker rentals or over-night lockers. There are several restroom stalls located in each locker room, as well as two large restrooms on the pool deck for families.

Yes. We have showers on the pool deck for quick rinsing before and after swimming. Additional individual showers are available in the locker rooms, where shampoo/body wash is also provided.

We do not offer a towel service, however if you forget towels for the day we are happy to loan you some. Please ask any staff member and they will assist you.

Unfortunately strollers are not allowed on the pool level. Please park your strollers in the designated parking areas at the entrance to the building, and pack a bag for swimming.

Yes. Like all New York City pools, only fully vaccinated individuals (who are eligible for the vaccine) are able to gain access to our pool. While masks cannot be worn in the pool, we ask that they be worn on deck, in the locker rooms, and everywhere else in the Community Center. Instructors wear clear face shields to add an additional layer of protection for the student and teacher. We carefully watch and follow all Department of Health and CDC recommendations. As things change, we may adapt our requirements.

To get started with swim lessons we ask that all prospective participants submit an online class request form. You can do this by going to www.manhattanyouth.org/aquatics/registration. Submitting an request form does not guarantee placement, however, we will do our best to find a group best suited to your family’s needs. 

We sure do! In addition to our Lap Swim hours, we offer a variety of swim classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced swimmers. We also seasonally offer water fitness classes. These adult classes are included in Membership to the Center. Private lessons are available at an additional cost.

As a member of Manhattan Youth's Downtown Community Center, you will have these added benefits and more!

• 10% Discount on registration-based swim classes
• Access to Complimentary Bubble Babies, Water Toddlers, and Splash Pad classes for young swimmers under 3
• Access to Complimentary Adult Swim Lessons (group)
• Access to Family Swim and Lap Swim hours
• Ability to schedule Private Swim Lessons
• Early Bird discounts and promotions

No. While members of the Center receive 10% off swim class fees, you do not have to have a membership to enroll your child in our group swim lessons. Since swim classes meet only once per week, we do encourage you to consider a Family Membership so that you can help your child reinforce their new skills during our Family Swim on the weekdays or weekends. Our Bubble Babies and Water Toddlers swim classes are also included in membership! Private Swim Lessons are offered only to members.

Our goal is to offer your child high-quality swim instruction. Therefore, we strive to keep our swim classes small so that each swimmer receives personal attention from their instructor. Pre-K lessons will have a maximum of 3-4 children per instructor. Parent/Child lessons and Youth lessons for school-aged children will have 3-6 children per instructor, depending on skill-level. Please note that Swim Team practices may have more than 6 children per class or lane due to the training-like structure.

Yes! We understand the importance of the child/teacher relationship, so if you have a teacher preference, please let us know. We will always do our best to accommodate instructor requests, but cannot guarantee which teacher your child will be placed with. We also may find it necessary to move a child to a different class mid-semester, or to change the teacher for a class mid-semester.

No, the class will still take place as usual. An appropriate substitute teacher will be staffed for the day.

Yes, based on availability. You will be charged a pro-rated amount based on the remaining classes in the semester.

When you sign up for a semester of swim lessons, your day and time is reserved each week for the duration of a semester. Unfortunately we do not allow make-up lessons for missed group classes, however, we will do our best to accommodate schedule changes and will work with you to find another day or time that works for your schedule should your current class time no longer work.

Please send your child with a swim suit, towel, and a pair of goggles to each swimming session. Please do not bring flotation devices or water wings - we will not use these in lessons. All children under 3 and those not fully potty trained must wear an appropriate snug-fitting swim diaper under their swim attire.

Yes! We encourage it! All children in our Pre-K program are required to have a parent or guardian on the pool level. Parents of older children may drop their child off and return at the end of class, so long as they first check in with the Deck Supervisor. We ask parents to sit on the red benches along either side of our pool deck to watch their child during swim lessons. You may also watch from the hallway, through our wall of windows.

Private lessons are offered only to Members of the Center.