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July 20, 2009

Behold the Gowanus Country Club

The Post ran a story on the dumpsters-cum-swimming pools that have been built in an undisclosed Gowanus location (the exact coordinates are pretty much an open secret at this point). The vid above captures the glory of the project—a less junky look can be seen here—which comes c/o Manhattan-based Macro Sea. The dumpsters are the centerpiece of a "low-fi country club" that also includes a bocce court. "I was mystified by the idea of a Dumpster pool, but it's really cool, and the water is perfect," a nearby resident told the Post. "It's so hot out, and this is a convenient swim location, even though it's in a Dumpster."
Bye-Bye Trash, Hello Splash! [NY Post]
Dumpster Pools [Bablegum]




Posted by Gabby at 10:14 AM | Comments (27)
Categories: Gowanus

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Comments

omg i am SICK of hearing about these toolbags and their "exclusive" dumpster pool parties. someone needs to hop the fence and take a massive turd in their pool.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 20, 2009 10:18 AM

"cum-dumpster" was horrible epithet used of libertaed women in my school days.

Posted by: dittoburg at July 20, 2009 10:21 AM

The dumpsters are the centerpiece of a "low-fi country club"

rewrite>>>>>

The dumpsters are the centerpiece of a "low-life country club."

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 20, 2009 10:22 AM

ditto, I've used that in some of my chats with guys I've met on silverdaddies.com

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at July 20, 2009 10:23 AM

DIBS, youre all sexed up this morning. perhpas you should have a massage at lunchtime.

Posted by: dittoburg at July 20, 2009 10:31 AM

I was chuckling to myself about this early this morning as I took my laps in the red hook pool. The water was clear, clean and a perfect temperature. 42 yards from one wall to the other. I wonder how many laps to the mile in a dumster? Seriously, this is soaking, not swimming.

Posted by: slopefarm at July 20, 2009 10:33 AM

what is the red hook pool like. is it only to do laps or is it open for frolicking as well?

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 20, 2009 10:37 AM

Rob, total frolicking from 11-3, 4-7 every day through the day before Labor Day. Total frolicking, except that it is subject to the thorough oversight of more lifeguards and security than you would have ever thought necessary. It gets pretty crowded on a hot weekend day, but otherwise it's great. Check the Parks Dept website for rules before you go. And bring a lock, they won't let you in without one.

There's also the Douglass/Degraw pool a short walk from your apartment, but I've never been there.

Posted by: slopefarm at July 20, 2009 11:02 AM

Rob -- I just went to the Red Hook pool for the first time this weekend and was pleasantly surprised. It's huge, with both lap lanes and plenty of open space. Have you been to a public pool, though? Only downsides to the one in Red Hook are the same things that are annoying about all NYC pools (you have to bring a lock, pretty much nothing's allowed with you poolside, there are no chairs, etc.)

Posted by: alsawo at July 20, 2009 11:03 AM

what does bringing a lock mean? sounds like fun tho, i think ill check it out.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 20, 2009 11:07 AM

What's the problem with this? One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 20, 2009 11:07 AM

these "dumpster" pools really are no better or worse that those W.T. above ground pools. just a container holding water. 'dumpster' just adds hipster cache or credibility to it i guess...sadly.

Posted by: goldie at July 20, 2009 11:09 AM

"Bringing a lock" isn't code for anything. You've got to bring the sort of lock you had on your locker in junior high. They won't let you in without it. You've got to lock up all your stuff before heading out to the pool.

Posted by: alsawo at July 20, 2009 11:10 AM

quote:
W.T. :-/

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 20, 2009 11:11 AM

:-/ <--- ive seen you make this face a lot rob. does it translate to sadness or disgust or what? im not hip to modern day emoticons.

oh, and yes, above ground pools are w.t. or at least just plain old t. no matter who has em. they dont add but rather deplete aesthetic value, only add cooling liquid pleasure i guess.

Posted by: goldie at July 20, 2009 11:16 AM

Rob, they mean bring a padlock. Bring a lock could mean multiple things...

Posted by: dittoburg at July 20, 2009 11:18 AM

there's nothing white trashy about above ground pools. how is it different than inground pools? just a little higher. plus you can put a deck on it. also you cant fall in it like you can do with inground pools. do you know how many people a year die by falling in a pool and hitting their head on the concrete side? hundreds!

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 20, 2009 11:21 AM

>>there's nothing white trashy about above ground pools

they're the equivalent of an el camino on blocks on the front lawn.

>>how is it different than inground pools?

the same way that exposed screws/picture nails or pipes/wiring are different than flush or hidden ones.

dont get me wrong, when the weather is hot and muggy, i'd be the first to jump into one of those with a Milwaukee's Best and CCR on the radio.

Posted by: goldie at July 20, 2009 11:27 AM

> there's nothing white trashy about above ground pools

Ohhhhhhh! Got it now. I saw "W.T." and assumed that stood for "Windsor Terrace".

Posted by: DitmasSnark at July 20, 2009 12:11 PM

"there's nothing white trashy about above ground pools".
Nor confederate flags, four broken down cars on your front lawn, or a green bean casserole made from canned green beans topped with cheese whiz.

Posted by: dittoburg at July 20, 2009 12:49 PM

Goldie, I aologize for ripping you off there, didn't intially see the lawn comment.

Posted by: dittoburg at July 20, 2009 12:51 PM

Article to follow on hipster staph outbreak in 3..2..1

Posted by: Knickerbocker at July 20, 2009 3:21 PM

> green bean casserole made from canned green beans topped with cheese whiz.

Don't be ridiculous, ditto.

One tops a proper green bean casserole with canned fried onions. Structural cohesion is provided by a can of cream of mushroom soup.

Save the Cheese Whiz for the crudites.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at July 20, 2009 3:32 PM

ditto, no rip off there, those things are just a given when it comes to W.T. that green bean casserole is often accompanied by some jello ambrosia that resembles the food in Better Off Dead

Posted by: goldie at July 20, 2009 3:35 PM

Snarky - I presume it should be pronounced to rhyme with luddites to give full effect.

Posted by: dittoburg at July 20, 2009 3:49 PM

426 President Street at Bond Street. Google maps street view matches opening shots of video here:
http://www.babelgum.com/3022110/new-urbanism-3-dumpster-pools.html

Posted by: joarkim at July 20, 2009 3:51 PM

The dumpster pools are right at the end of my street. My neighbor invited me down. l felt uncomfortable about being there ( not being officially invited) so I introduced myself to Dave Belt , the developer that came up with the idea, he was at the pool that day.I told him I lived right up the street and I had two young daughters that loved to swim. He was very friendly. he said feel free to use the pools. He said he was just going to see how it went and as long as no one abused it, the pools would be free and open
.A week later at the pool I met a guy named Jacko who said he worked for Dave Belt. He asked me who I knew and how I came to be using the pools. I told him how I met Dave .He was O.K. with that but told me that there were some new restrictions. He said the pool was only open 3-9 PM Thur & Fri. and 12 noon - 9PM on Sat & Sun. he also said to use the Carroll street entrance and to call the pools life guard to let you in. He gave me the lifeguards cell phone number.
Here is where it gets weird.
We went to the pools last thursday then again this Thursday 8/6/09. When we got home I got a call from Jacko. He was furious. he called me an A__hole who had been tresspassing on private property.He said that i had been at the pool every day walking around like i owned the place and that i had totally abused the situation. He also said that I had lied about knowing Dave Belt.He said I had no business there and that I better not ever show up again.All this using many expletives.

All this guy had to say was that the pools are closed and no longer open.I would not have had a problem with that. We never abused this place, always picked up after ourselves and were courteous and polite to the other people at the pool. ( there was never more than 3 or 4 other people there)
I do beleive this guy is emotionally unstable.

And to Mr. Dave Belt , who was very nice and did invite me and my daughters to swim, I think you should check this Jacko guy out a little closer. You might not want someone this angry and hateful representing your company.

Posted by: redrube at August 7, 2009 1:23 PM

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