New York public pool attendance down this summer because of cooler temps

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (WABC) -- On the last unofficial day of summer, some were taking one last swim at McCarren Park Pool.

With seemingly cooler weather this summer, this is one of the pools that has seen a lot of swimmers this summer.

Labor Day brings out friends and families for one last fling in city swimming pools, and the pool here at McCarren Park for one has actually hosted 8,000 more visitors this year.

"It's a beautiful pool," said swimmer Carolyn Lipp. "It's really well kept and it's really big.

But the seemingly cooler weather this summer has decreased attendance overall in the city's 55 pools, according to parks department attendance figures. Through Aug. 16 nearly 1.3 million people visited city pools, down from nearly 1.4 million in 2013 through the same time.

"The weather definitely has been a factor this year with the lower climate but ...this pool is great," said parent Lladanys Sosa.

In New York, there have been just six days at 90 degrees or higher; typically there are 14-15 such days.

Lisa Ortega was at McCarren for the first time. "We were suppose to go to the beach, but this is my first time coming here," she said.

Others, like Michael Gordon, are just glad to enjoy one last day of summer around the pool.

"I had the day off. I have family waiting for me inside so, I'm going to enjoy the day off," he said.