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Day After Opening, McCarren Park Pool Lifeguards Attacked
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 30, 2012
Modified Jun 30, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 30, 2012
Modified Jun 30, 2012
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Photograph by Katie Sokoler/Gothamist
Does this get filed under "Why we can't have nice things"? A day after the McCarren Park Pool opened to great fanfare, the pool had to close early yesterday because lifeguards were attacked. Parks Department spokeswoman Vickie Karp said, "Lifeguards at McCarren pool were attacked by an unruly crowd and the pool had to close to restore order."
The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. (the pool usually closes at 7 p.m.), and DNAinfo reports, "Witnesses said one lifeguard who tried to break up the fight was punched in the face... The pool had been closed for nearly three decades after its condition deteriorated in the early 1980s and it became a hotspot for fights and violence, residents recalled."
According to some Tweets, a lifeguard was pulled into the pool:
McCarren Pool Day 2: lifeguard is jumped, pulled into pool.
— Jenna Copley (@jennacopley) June 29, 2012
Was just @ mccarren pool to witness a gigantic brawl between lifeguards an hs kids. Full riot w ppl elbow dropping offa lifeguard chairs.
— MR. A*OK (@MISTER_AOK) June 29, 2012
Life guard assaulted, nearly drowned by group of kids; McCarren Pool closes early today.Sadface.
— AP Smith (@apsmithnyc) June 29, 2012
No serious injuries were reported and the pool is supposed to reopen today. We have tips for enjoying public pools—the unstated 6th one is "Don't be a jerk and ruin it for everyone else."
Tagged
brooklyn
greenpoint
lifeguards
mccarren park
McCarren Park Pool
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williamsburg
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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