Ready, Set, Swim! NYC Pools Are Now Open For Business

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City's public pools are open for the summer.

The city has 53 outdoor pools around the five boroughs.

Some sat outside the gates for more than an hour at a pool in Astoria, Queens, waiting for their summer fun to start, CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reported. But once the gates were open, it was goggles on and straight into the water.

"Finally I can just hang out with friends every single day, go to the pool and just have fun," said 12-year-old Antonio Soto.

"School ending yesterday was like the best day of my life," said Kristina Vargas, 11. "I couldn't wait for it, and I was like, 'Thank God!'"

Kristina said she brought everything but the kitchen sink with her to the pool because she wanted to be fully prepared to hang out at the pool almost all day.

"I get to swim with my friends and family and just have fun and chill," Vargas said.

The Keush family said they can see the cool pool from their house. Seven-year-old Lucy says her favorite thing to do in the pool is doggy paddle.

Fifteen-year-old David Santiago's favorite thing? "I like doing backflips and stuff," he said.

Pool hours run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

This year the city is providing free sunscreen at outdoor pools and free food to children 18 and under.

Pool season has been extended until a week after Labor Day at the city's Olympic and intermediate-sized pools.