When Adult Lap Swim gloriously returned at the beginning of this month after a six year hiatus, swimmers rejoiced. Even in its most feeble form—one pool in each borough, only during the morning, and only three days a week—swimmers could finally do laps in (relative) peace.
But one thing that the Parks Department didn't plan for was what to do when it's hot as hell outside, like it has been since Monday, and the City declares a heat emergency, which means that instead of closing at 7 p.m., pools are now open to the luxuriously late hour of 8 p.m.
Instead of just allowing everyone to safely get their exercise in during the morning and evening hours (the coolest of the day), the Parks Department has instead canceled Adult Lap Swim, in an effort to preserve lifeguards for the longer evening shift.
So far, with little notification to swimmers, Adult Lap Swim has been canceled four times this summer because of a heat emergency, which means that during the four weeks it's been revived, adults have only gotten to lap swim seven times.