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This summer's record high temperatures coupled with the recent beach closings throughout the city and Long Island has thousands of city dwellers spelling relief P-O-O-L.
Over 5,000 people beat the heat each day in Astoria Pool, in Astoria Park, where swimming is free and fun is the order of the day. The pool, the largest and most frequented in the city, offers a lap swim every morning, day care, a free swimming program for children and even an annual synchronized swimming show.
"I come here almost every day," said Colleen Jones, a 15-year-old from Astoria. "All of my friends come, too. It's like a hangout for all the kids during the summer."
"This pool is much cleaner and nicer than the ones in Manhattan," said Darius Burke, 14, from the Lower East Side of Manhattan. "Besides, it's not such a hostile environment. It's just an all-around American pool."
Many people expressed concern over recent findings of sewage and medical waste on area beaches. "I usually...