(New York, N.Y.) – New York City not-for-profit Asphalt Green is expanding its free Wave
Makers initiative and other aquatics programming to the pool at River East Elementary School after NYC Department of Education-funded renovations. River East Elementary, located at 2351 1st Avenue, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, October 25, to celebrate the pool's reopening and the partnerships that made it possible.
In attendance were officials from Asphalt Green, NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles Ramos, NY City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, and other representatives from across the Department of Education. Also there was three-time Olympic gold medalist and President of Stand By Me Swimming Foundation Anthony Ervin, 2024 Olympic gold and silver medalist Jack Alexy, World Championship Medalist Dare Rose, and Dylan Porges, an alum of the Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics (AGUA) team, who won numerous Mexican national titles and is a Princeton University Swimming record holder. The Team USA members will also conduct free swimming clinics at River East.
The pool at River East Elementary School was decommissioned in 2015 and has sat empty since. In the fall of 2023, Asphalt Green conducted a pro bono feasibility study to determine what would be needed to rehabilitate the facility which was presented to the School Construction Authority. After tireless advocacyfrom District 4 Superintendent Kristy De La Cruz, the Division of School Facilities brought the pool back online this past summer and River East Elementary Principal Michael Panetta invited Asphalt
Green to become the operator.
With the pool reopened, Asphalt Green's groundbreaking Wave Makers program will provide free weekly swim instruction to over 600 public school students in East Harlem's District 4. Wave Makers is a collaboration among Asphalt Green, the Gray Foundation, and the offices of New York City Council Member Julie Menin and Council Member Shekar Krishnan that provides free, comprehensive swimming lessons to second graders across New York City.
"I am enormously proud of the ongoing expansion of the Wave Makers initiative that I launched with the Gray Foundation, Asphalt Green, and Council Member Shekar Krishnan. Today's reopening of the River East Elementary School pool will allow Wave Makers to reach over 600 Harlem area students and equip them with lifesaving swimming skills. I look forward to the expansion of this program and its continued
success," said Council Member Julie Menin.
In addition to Wave Makers, Asphalt Green plans to offer after-school aquatics programming at River East designed to create pathways for children from Harlem to pursue competitive swimming through the Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics (AGUA) Swim Team. This initiative will be sponsored in part by the Stand By Me Swimming Foundation, whose mission is to ensure every individual has the opportunity to pursue
competitive swimming.
According to the New York City Council, 68% of NYC residents lack access to pools, many public school pools remain inactive, and one out of four New York City children remain unable to swim. Asphalt Green believes its River East Elementary programming can serve as a blueprint for pools at other NYC DOE schools and help rapidly expand access to swim instruction.
"We are so excited to bring Wave Makers and our other celebrated aquatics programming to River East," said Asphalt Green CEO Jordan Brackett. "Every child deserves free and equitable access to swim instruction, which can not only save lives, but transform them. We hope the partnerships we have forged to bring this pool back online serve as inspiration for similar project across the five boroughs."
"Swimming taught me discipline, resilience, and teamwork. By ensuring that more children can access swim lessons and competitive pathways, we're helping them build those same life skills. I'm excited to see how these programs will create swimmers and empower young people to reach their full potential," said Jack Alexy, US National Swim Team Member and 2024 Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist."
"Swimming is more than just a sport—it's a life skill that creates opportunities," said Anthony Ervin, 3X Olympic Gold Medalist and President of the Stand By Me Foundation. "Through Asphalt Green and the Stand By Me Foundation, we're teaching children how to swim, equipping them with confidence and a pathway to competitive swimming. This partnership ensures every child has the chance to grow, thrive, and achieve their full potential."
"Growing up in Jersey City, I experienced the challenges of a lack of accessible swim facilities," said Dare Rose, US National Swim Team Member and 2X World Championships Medalist. "Programs like this are working to close that gap, ensuring more kids can learn to swim and pursue competitive opportunities. It's about giving everyone a fair shot at achieving their goals, no matter where they come
from."
"The access and opportunity this pool provides to the East Harlem community cannot be overstated," said Dylan Porges, a former Ivy League champion, Mexican national champion, and a national recordholder for Team Mexico. "Swimming for AGUA at Asphalt Green helped me get to college, travel the world, and instilled in me a passion and joy for the water. This pool will not only help save lives, it will help transform them."
About Asphalt Green:
Asphalt Green is a not-for-profit organization that transforms lives and builds community through sports, fitness, and play for all. We offer world-class fitness memberships, nationally competitive sports and aquatics teams, recreational sports, and leading camp programs that empower our community members to live active and healthier lives. In addition, our unique model uses funds raised from fee-based
programing to provide free and low-cost programs to those with limited access to high-quality fitness and recreational programs.
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