STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Some Staten Island students will have the opportunity to learn to swim for free this year through a new program designed to address swim inequality in underserved communities.
The Heckscher Foundation for Children is providing a grant to fund a swim program between the YMCA of Greater New York, the JCC of Staten Island and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. The initiative will serve students at 11 public elementary schools in mid-to-north Staten Island during the 2025-26 school year.
“Swimming is more than a recreational activity — it’s a life-saving skill that builds confidence and promotes equity,” said Peter Sloane, chairman and CEO of the foundation. “Too many children in low-income communities grow up without this basic competence.”
Approximately 800 second-grade students will receive weekly 45-minute swim lessons over eight to 10 weeks during the school day, with instruction provided by certified aquatic educators.
The program expects 95% of participating students to demonstrate progress in at least one swim skill, with more than 80% of students starting at the lowest proficiency level advancing to a higher tier.
“Living on Staten Island means our students are never far from water — whether it’s beaches, pools or waterways. Yet, drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children,” said Dr. Roderick Palton, superintendent of District 31. “We are literally giving our students a skill that could one day save their lives.”
The foundation hopes the Staten Island pilot will inspire replication in other boroughs, serving as a call to action to make water safety a standard part of elementary education.
NYC Parks’ existing Swim for Life program has already seen success. In 2024, the department taught more than 13,000 young minority students to swim.
The three-way partnership will divide instruction across the YMCA’s Broadway branch in West Brighton, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island in Sea View, and NYC Parks at Curtis High School in St. George.
NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa said the program represents effective collaboration. “Together with the Heckscher Foundation, YMCA, and JCC, we’re not just teaching swim strokes — we’re investing in the safety, health, and futures of New York City children.”