NY waives State Park pool fees for the summer. Where are pools located?

Emily Barnes, New York State Team
The swimming pool at Watkins Glen State Park in 2015.
The swimming pool at Watkins Glen State Park in 2015.

Kids in New York can swim for free at certain state park pools — including a few close to the Rochester area — for the remainder of the summer, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

State park pools in the Finger Lakes/Southern Tier region are available at Letchworth State Park in Castile and Watkins Glen State Park in Watkins Glen.

Tuesday's announcement was part of Hochul's "Get Offline, Get Outdoors" campaign "to promote physical and mental health by helping New York's kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings."

You'll still have to pay the regular parking fees at state parks with on-site parking but Hochul has also launched a pilot program offering free sunscreen at state park pools.

Assistance for transporting school-age children to swimming lessons through reimbursed transportation costs was also announced Tuesday, as part of a $1.5 million grant.

Summer safety tips for kids: What to be aware of for swimming, grilling, boating in NY

Here's where swimming fees are waived throughout New York state this summer.

Finger Lakes

  • Letchworth State Park Pool in Castile

Southern Tier

  • Watkins Glen State Park Pool in Watkins Glen

Western New York

  • Fort Niagara State Park Pool in Youngstown

Mohawk Valley

  • Minekill State Park Pool in North Blenheim

North Country

  • Keewaydin State Park Pool in Alexandria Bay

Water park safety tips: Must-know advice for NY attractions

Capital Region

  • Saratoga Spa State Park Pools (Peerless and Victoria) in Saratoga Springs

Hudson Valley

  • Bear Mountain State Park Pool in Bear Mountain

  • FDR State Park Pool in Yorktown

  • High Tor State Park Pool in New City

  • Rockland Lake State Park Pool in Valley Cottage

New York City

  • Roberto Clemente State Park Pool in the Bronx

  • Riverbank State Park Pools (Indoor and Outdoor) in Manhattan

Long Island

  • Jones Beach State Park West Bathhouse Pool in Wantagh

  • Montauk Downs State Park Pool in Montauk

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Barnes at [email protected] or on Twitter @byemilybarnes.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY waives State Park pool fees for summer. Where are pools located?

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