Public Pool Usage as Adaptation Against Urban Heat in New York City

joined work with Eric Fesselmeyer, Singapore Management University, SINGAPORE

Urban populations are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, with cities experiencing intensifying warming effects due to the urban heat island phenomenon. This heat not only reduces well-being and productivity but also increases health risks—particularly for low-income and marginalized communities with limited access to private cooling resources.

In this study, we examine the role of blue infrastructure, specifically public outdoor pools, as an adaptation mechanism for coping with rising urban temperatures in New York City. Using spatially explicit data on public pool attendance, weather, and demographics from 2017 to 2022, we show that hotter temperatures significantly increase the use of public pools. A one-degree Celsius increase in the heat index raises pool attendance by approximately 8%, or 30 additional users per pool per day.

Importantly, our findings reveal that public pools serve as critical heat relief infrastructure in disadvantaged communities. During heat events, pool usage in the lowest-income neighborhoods increases substantially more than in affluent areas. At extreme heat levels (40–42°C), attendance in the poorest quartile is nearly 50% higher than in the wealthiest areas, indicating that low-income populations are especially reliant on public pools to cope with heat.

We further show that pool availability reduces the sensitivity of emergency medical service (EMS) calls to extreme heat. A one standard deviation increase in the heat index above the local norm results in approximately 200 additional daily EMS calls, but access to operational pools reduces heat-related EMS calls by 28% during extreme heat days. This suggests a direct public health benefit of investing in accessible cooling infrastructure.

The paper makes three contributions:

  1. It provides the first micro-level evidence of the adaptive use of blue infrastructure in response to urban heat.

  2. It highlights the environmental justice implications of uneven access to cooling resources in cities.

  3. It demonstrates the mitigating effect of public infrastructure on heat-related health outcomes.

Our findings support a growing policy focus on equitable climate adaptation. With urban temperatures rising and public interest in swimming access increasing, this research offers timely insights for planners and policymakers seeking to design inclusive and health-effective adaptation strategies.