PHOTOS: NYC Dumpster Pools Make a Splash with All Ages!

Hey New Yorkers!

If you haven’t already checked out the Dumpster Pools along New York City’s Park Avenue, we’ve gotta say that you’re definitely missing out! Last Saturday marked the second day of Macro Sea's highly anticipated Dumpster Pools, an installation which converted three unused dumpsters into makeshift swimming pools for the 3rd annual Summer Streets Fair in New York City. Despite an early call time (the pools open at 7am!), eager swimmers of all ages lined up en masse for a chance to go for a dip. While we didn’t actually take a dive ourselves (errhm, we just ate breakfast and forgot our bathing suits...), we did manage to capture some fun-filled moments of the vibrant Summer Streets scene going down on Park Avenue. Click ahead for some exclusive photos of the best city-sponsored DIY design event of the summer!

We first wrote about these unlikely swimming holes last year when they mysteriously appeared at an undisclosed location in Brooklyn. Since then, they’ve made such a splash that across the city that the Bloomberg Administration commissioned Macro Sea to create a trio of them for all New Yorkers (and visitors) in the area to enjoy. The big red repurposed trash receptacles were emblazoned with the Macro Sea logo and look quite a bit nicer than the guerrilla versions that started it all.

In addition to an upgrade in attractiveness and venue, stringent pool safety was of the utmost importance and (lifeguards?) were around just in case anyone got in over their heads – though the dumpsters only went to 4’6″ deep. Colorful inner tubes were available to anyone who didn’t feel 100% confident in their swimming abilities, but those who wanted to show off their skills ignored the slightly smaller than Olympic size of the pools and donned bathing caps and nose pincers. Eat your heart out Michael Phelps!

If you live in NYC and want to check out the pools – this weekend is your last chance! This Saturday will be the very last Saturday the pools will be open before being disassembled for the close of summer – sad, we know! So be sure you block out some time to take a dive, because while this year’s pools are open invite, next year’s installation might just be a little more exclusive!

+ Macro Sea

Photos: Jill Fehrenbacher, Diane Pham

LAST CHANCE to Dive in the NYC Dumpster Pools this Saturday! | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World says:

August 20, 2010 at 8:01 pm

[...] making a splish and a splash, so if you haven’t made it over to Park Avenue for a dip in one of Macro Sea’s infamous dumpster pools, you’d better get moving because this Saturday the 21st will be your last chance! Commissioned by [...]
peinissite says:

August 20, 2010 at 10:34 pm

People have nothng to do nowdays but just swim in dumpsters… crazyyyy