During National Child Safety and Protection Month this November, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas hosted an event to highlight the importance of water safety and expanding community access.
González-Rojas joined Lexington School for the Deaf staff, students, and lawmakers on Wednesday, Nov. 21, to launch a capital campaign aimed at renovating the school’s indoor swimming pool. During the event, González-Rojas announced a $1 million capital funding allocation toward the project for the school located at 25-26 75th St. in East Elmhurst.
Additional contributions include $500,000 from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and support from State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Assembly Member Ed Braunstein, among others. Lawmakers attending the event included State Senator Michael Gianaris and Assembly Members Andrew Hevesi, Nily Rozic, Catalina Cruz, and Sam Berger, as well as a representative from Assembly Member Steven Raga’s office.
González-Rojas represents New York’s 34th Assembly District, which includes neighborhoods such as East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Corona. Known for her commitment to equity and community development, González-Rojas has been a strong advocate for addressing water safety and access in underserved communities. Her involvement in this initiative began early in her tenure when constituents raised concerns about the lack of recreational and educational swimming facilities. Over the years, she has worked to secure funding and rally support for the pool’s renovation as a cornerstone of her district-wide safety and education efforts.
“As a mother, a person with hearing loss, and the Assembly Member for the Lexington School for the Deaf, I prioritize our children’s and community’s safety above all else,” said González-Rojas. “Every drowning is a tragic and preventable loss. We must do more to teach children and our neighbors how to swim safely and ensure there are enough lifeguards at our beaches and public pools.”
“I am proud to have allocated $1 million in capital funding to renovate the pool at the Lexington School of the Deaf, which will be open to both their students and the public once completed. Lexington School is committed to training the next generation of lifeguards and ensuring our neighbors have access to swim instruction,” she added.
Founded in 1864, the Lexington School for the Deaf serves approximately 210 profoundly deaf students from preschool to 12th grade, as well as 37 families in its deaf infant-parent program. The school’s swimming pool, originally built in 1968, was a critical resource for teaching water safety and swimming to deaf students and offering recreational opportunities to the Queens community. The pool was closed in 2014 due to mechanical failures.
The renovation project aims to bring the pool up to modern standards, including achieving ADA compliance. The school’s goal is to secure the remaining funding by June 2025 and reopen the pool by November 2026.
“As a Lexington alumnus, I can personally attest to the importance of providing swimming instruction to our deaf students,” said Seth Bravin, Interim CEO/Superintendent and Lexington Class of ’91. “We are thrilled to have such overwhelming support for the renovation of the pool. I look forward to seeing our students and members of the Queens community swimming in the pool soon.”
Community leaders and organizations praised the initiative for addressing water safety and education. Shawn Slevin of the Swim Strong Foundation emphasized the project’s importance in fostering aquatic skills amid increasing climate-related water challenges. “It takes a village to create and build the robust aquatic culture needed by a premier maritime city such as NYC,” Slevin said. “Swim Strong looks forward to working with all of you toward that goal.”
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation highlighted the project’s potential impact. “Thanks to dedicated grantee partners like Lexington School for the Deaf, we look forward to a future that is safer and healthier,” the foundation stated. “Lexington School is uniquely positioned, both in its geographic location and in the people it reaches, to make this pool a community hub that creates moments of learning, togetherness, and joy.”
Local lawmakers echoed these sentiments. “This initiative goes beyond repairing a swimming pool—it represents a commitment to water safety, recreation, and skills training for our children and families in Queens,” said Assembly Member Catalina Cruz. “The renovated pool will serve as a vital resource, not only for the students of Lexington but for the entire community.”
State Senator Michael Gianaris highlighted the importance of equitable access to recreational resources. “Lexington School for the Deaf has always been an incredible space for the deaf and hard of hearing,” he said. “I am proud to have provided funding to improve and reopen this pool and close a glaring gap in access to recreational swimming in Queens.”
The campaign launch comes amid growing concern over water safety in New York City, which recorded the highest number of drownings at city beaches since 2019. Studies reveal that many New York City communities lack access to swimming facilities, with over 3 million residents living in districts without a public pool.
“The restoration of the Lexington School swimming pool will help ensure that all children in Queens have access to life-saving swim instruction and create a space for students to thrive in and outside of the classroom,” said Assembly Member Nily Rozic. “I’m thrilled to have helped provide state funding for this critical investment in our schools.”
Assembly Member Sam Berger noted the broader implications for the community. “This initiative will enable the largest school for the deaf to once again offer vital programs, including swim instruction and lifeguard training, benefiting both the hearing-impaired population and the Queens community at large,” he said.
“Taking care of our community is a shared responsibility. Today, we are showing up for them. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues for their support in making this project possible,” said González-Rojas.
