The city’s parks department, which began offering free swimming lessons in 1938, according to Meghan Lalor, a department spokeswoman, teaches more than 20,000 children each summer across the five boroughs. Most of the state’s free lessons had open spots this summer, Ms. Harvey said. Jeff Wiltse, a historian and author of the book “Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America, said decades of segregation at public swimming pools created a legacy of not swimming in black communities. PhotoToday, parents are more likely to cite time or financial constraints as reasons for not signing their children up for swim lessons. New York City is a leader in its offerings of no-cost swim lessons, said Kevin Roth, vice president of research at the National Recreation and Park Association.

Source: New York Times August 27, 2017 17:37 UTC