Oct. 4, 2024 By Athena Dawson
NYC Parks‘ Learn to Swim program is back for Queens residents of all ages. Starting now, anyone can register for NYC Park’s Learn to Swim lottery to take free classes at recreation centers throughout the city. Flushing Meadows Aquatic Center and Roy Wilkins Park Recreation Center are available for Queens residents.
Fall lottery registration dates end on Monday, Oct. 7. Swimmers can also walk into a recreation center and add their name to a Learn to Swim Waitlist on Saturday, Oct 19, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. There is a mandatory water test for those who are accepted on Oct. 19 from noon to 1 p.m.
Swim classes are offered for toddlers (ages 1 ½ to 5), children (ages 6-17), adults, and seniors (ages 62 and over). The classes cover a variety of skills based on age and skill level, including basic floating skills and water de-sensitivity for toddlers, basic arm strokes and breath control for adults and seniors, and a variety of classes for children.
To sign up for the Learn to Swim lottery, create an account through the NYC Parks website or visit your nearest recreation center. All Learn to Swim participants, including children, adults, and toddlers’ parents, must be members of the recreation center.
Registration is limited to one class per person. If you are registering for more than one child, sign-up must be done separately. Registrants selected by the lottery are not allowed to transfer their application to another person, even if said person is a family member.
If selected, registrants must confirm their slot within three days. Any swimmer who misses two classes in a row will be dropped from the class and replaced with another person on the waitlist.