Today I made a fire escape pool. Don’t worry, it’s temporary. But it’s still a pool.

I have, procured from Amazon and in my possession, a small pool for large dogs.
Not unlike a large dog, when it’s too hot to live outside I like to have some water to just lay in. A brief aquatic reprieve from the relentless elements.

If I’m outside trying to get tan, and it’s over 82 degrees, it will be a little TOO HOT to sit outside without a pool and I will immediately need a pool or other (clean, the Hudson doesn’t count, even though I actually think it’s okay in a science way) water source nearby.

In Van Vorst, Hamilton, and Newport Green Parks, there are playgrounds with water features. It’s questionable how “appropriate” it is for a grown up woman in a bikini to run over into a playground and under a water feature to frolic among children, but do you really care?
These water features are a life saver for when it’s super hot, just for a quick rinse then back to the towel/blanket/park punch. I’m so glad those parks have them. I’ll never stop being glad about it.

Oh man I just remembered, Berry Lane Park has playground water features too, yesssss. These are actually better because they’re adjacent to the playground but not IN the playground. Okay I admit it’s creepy going into the playground but it’s a chance I take when I’m desperate to cool off.

So this is how I made the fire escape pool:
- Lay down outdoor mat on fire escape.
- Set up pool.
- Fill pool. Obtain water by going back and forth from your sink with a large pot until it’s half full.
- Put 2 or more trays of ice cubes in the pool.
- Put an ice pack underneath the pool.
- Set up a towel by the pool that indicates that the pool is a pool.
- Enjoy.

Do you also enjoy makeshift pools? Backyard pools? Fire escape pools? Lmk.
Love it! You are still a kid in the playground of life.