A Goldfish Swim School is set to open March 10 in a former warehouse at 620 Degraw St in Gowanus. Haven't heard of Goldfish? That's understandable—this will be the first NYC outpost of the franchise that will have more than 100 locations nationwide by the end of the year. Here's why we think it's going to be one of the best indoor swimming pools in NYC for families.
The water at Goldfish is always heated to a tropical 90˚
This makes splashing around in the pool seem like bath time. No need to convince the kids to jump into a cold pool because "it'll warm up"—they'll get right in.
The pools are geared toward children
Goldfish is only for swimmers between the ages of four months and 12 years, and the rooms are bright and cheerful. Just like all of the best swimming pools for kids in NYC, these pools are scaled to the needs of young swimmers—your kids won't need to share a multipurpose lap pool with adults and teenagers.
Photograph: Courtesy Goldfish Swim School
In fact, the only adults and teenagers present are instructors and caregivers. This is a place for kids, which you see in the play-based instruction, the water toys, the easy-turn shower handles that puts your little one in control of rinsing off. There's no need to do that parent-in-the-shower shuffle, where you take off your shoes and socks and try to turn on the water and stay dry, but it never works.
Instruction is personalized
Most swim classes are capped at four swimmers per instructor, which is key for the best swimming lessons for kids in NYC. Should you have a little Michael Phelps on your hands, the swim teams have one coach per seven swimmers.
While there's no firm opening date, the swim school is preregistering swimmers now.
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