Thousands of NYC kids to see free swim lessons with $5.5 million investment

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Nearly 5,000 more kids will have the chance for free swim lesson thanks to a $5.5 million investment Mayor Eric Adams highlighted Thursday.

The investment will go towards the Parks Department’s “Swim for Life” program’s public school efforts focused on second graders across the five boroughs, but will also be available at other city schools. It will now reach an additional 4,800 students thanks to the funds Adams announced at his 2025 State of the City.

“The most important job we have as a city is to take care of our kids and keep them safe, and that includes ensuring that our young swimmers are safe and protected this summer,” Adams said. “We know that having access to free swim lessons can make a big difference in families’ lives, which is why we’re investing an additional $5.5 million in the ‘Swim for Life’ program to serve our youngest New Yorkers and provide free swim lessons to nearly 18,000 young people.”

The mayor made the announcement from Brooklyn’s Erasmus High School where he renamed that institution’s “Swim for Life” program for two boys who died last June off the coast of the Rockaways.

Elyjah Chandler, 16, and Christian Perkins, 17, lost their lives in the waters off Jacob Riis Beach, and Adams said the renaming of the Erasmus High School class fulfilled a promise he made to Chandler’s mother, Aminatu Noah.

“I’m incredibly grateful that this swim class is not only teaching life-saving skills, but also honoring my son, Elyjha Chandler, and his friend Christian Perkins in a meaningful way,” Noah said. “Knowing that their names will be associated with water safety and protecting other families from experiencing this kind of loss brings a sense of purpose to our pain. This program is a step toward change and a legacy of hope.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that there are 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings every year in the U.S., which is the leading cause of death for children under 5 and the second leading cause of death after motor vehicle crashes for children between the ages of 5 and 14.

As part of Swim for Life, NYC Parks will host three sessions, in winter, spring and fall, of free swim safety classes each school year ahead of the summer months.

“Every child should have the chance to learn to swim — it’s not just a skill, it’s a life-saving necessity,” Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said. “Through the expansion of our ‘Swim for Life’ program, we’re ensuring that thousands more young New Yorkers, especially in underserved communities, gain access to free, high-quality swim instruction. We are proud to stand with Mayor Adams in honoring Elyjha and Christian’s memories through action that will protect lives for years to come.”