Summer streets on Park Avenue

Today was the first Saturday of Summer Streets here in Manhattan and of course I had to check it out. Three consecutive Saturdays during the month of August are car-free on Park Avenue and anyone can enjoy running, skating, walking, cycling and swimming for the day.

Swimming? Yep, for those in need of a refreshing dip, three dumpsters (yes, DUMPSTERS) were retrofitted into pools complete with protective liners as well as filtration systems. A five-foot-wide metal deck with a nonstick rubber surface encircled the dumpster pools, and the surrounding streets had black and white cabanas set up as changing rooms, showers and portable toilets. Of course there were also plenty of lifeguards on duty as well as lounge chairs and hammocks.

A new meaning to dumpster diving! What a city!