Shade makes all the difference on a hot summer day. New Yorkers have long gathered under shade trees in parks and walked on the shady side of the street to beat the heat. Shade can also be portable. A parasol or a wide-brimmed hat make time spent in the sun more tolerable. A sun canopy or umbrella makes a trip to the beach safer and cooler. However it can be found, shade provides the relief necessary for New Yorkers in the summertime.

Hot weather changes how New Yorkers behave, inspiring people to search for new ways to cool off in the summertime. As one journalist observed during a 1925 hot spell, “the only relief” in the city “was in water, wherever it could be found.” Water—whether it’s the fountains, fire hydrants, rivers, outer-borough beaches, public baths (both floating and on land), or public pools—could transform a sizzling summer day into a cool afternoon. Source: “Nation’s Death List 300,” New York Times, June 7, 1925, 1.

According to the caption provided, "Small fry beat the heat--Kathleen Antoniello, 5, of 388 Kingston Ave., goes wading in Prospect Park lake."

New York opened its first two municipal baths, floating pools moored at Manhattan piers, in the summer of 1870. Located near tenement districts where people lacked home baths, the municipal baths were immediately popular. By their second summer in operation, more than 860,000 bathers visited the city’s floating baths to wash and cool off. At the peak of the program, the Department of Public Works oversaw a fleet of nearly a dozen floating baths that hosted millions of visitors each summer.

This photo was taken from the pier at the end of Coffee Street, in Red Hook Brooklyn, also known as the Louis Valentino Pier. The Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty are in the background. According to the caption provided: "Taken on August 2, 2002, shortly before the worst thunderstorm to hit NYC in 10 years. I was with a friend and we met a bunch of young men who were diving off the pier. The sun was setting and the storm hit about 30 minutes after this picture."

A group of children cool each other off with squirt guns next to a water fountain.

Scenes of life on the beach.

An action photograph shows a man being tossed from a blanket, with spectators enjoying the popular beach activity. Coney Island Beach (July 4, 1933).

Swimmers splash and take laps in the olympic-size pool at Colonial Park, Harlem.

Three toddlers play with in inflatable pool in the middle of a heat wave. As the image caption reads, "In the...old summertime--It paid to be young today and small enough to fit into a toy pool, like Evan Kottler and Richard Kronick of 235 and 225 Adams St. and Sarah Rubinton of 270 Jay St., as the head wave went into its seventh day."

The photograph caption reads: "Small fry beat the heat -- Emilio Pastrawa, 8, does it the old-fashioned way by holding hot feet under stream of cold water from fireplug near his home at 18 Dennet Place."

A nurse plays with a group of children on a beach near Seaside Hospital.

This photo caption reads: "Were you here?--This [aerial] photograph of the crowd which turned out at Coney Island [boardwalk and beach] last Sunday was taken from the parachute jump, recently moved from the World's Fair to Steeplechase Park. Police estimated that 800,000 persons were at the resort."

The photo caption reads: "Cool, cool water--Joseph Wienburner, 5, of 213 Marion St., has found a way to cool off in playground at Howard Ave. and Dean St."

This couple cools off under the shade at Steeplechase Park in Coney Island.

The provided caption reads: "Keeping cool at the pool--Tony Izzi of 8415 4th Ave. doesn't mind in the least as little cousin, Janice Napoli of 7101 4th Ave., gives him a sudden shower [with pail of water]. They're seen at Steeplechase Pool, Coney Island."

Children gather around a newly planted tree. The provided caption reads: "Arbor Day: Frederick Ross, 6, of 101 N. Portland Ave., completing the task of tree planting which concluded Arbor Day exercises by veterans organizations and neighborhood, church, school and civic organizations in Fort Greene Housing yesterday."

Beachgoers enjoy the Manhattan Beach tennis courts, Brooklyn, undated (ca. July 1917).

Children play in a wading pool at Owl's Head Park located at 67th Street and Colonial Road.

A photograph of a youngster helping his friend satisfy her thirst. The caption reads: "Temperature boost--Thomas O'Neill, 2, of Stratford Road, offers manly assistance to Lourie Young, also 2, of 15 Stratford Road, at [Prospect Park] parade grounds fountain as mercury climbed to record-breaking figures."

A trio of swimmers splash in the ocean at Coney Island. From left to right, Dina Arzano of 175 Prospect Park Southwest, Rose Mascolo of 135 Bay 40th St., and Dina's sister, Ann Arzano, enjoy a summer swim.

An important part of the local ecosystem, trees provide shade, evaporative cooling, and temperature regulation. Vegetated landscapes remain cooler during the day and cool off faster than landscapes dominated by brick, stone, and concrete. Places where “natural” features dominate, like parks, function as “urban cool islands.”

A toddler eagerly drinks from the water fountain aboard the floating hospital ship, *The Lloyd I. Seaman*, in Upper New York Bay.

Beachgoers walk along the boardwalk at Coney Island. This photograph from 1922 looks east from Martino's Bath (August 4, 1922).

A group of children splash in the surf at Manhattan Beach.

Children enjoy their swim in Colonial Park's olympic-size pool in Harlem.

Photo caption reads, "Manhattan 246, Field House--Polo Grounds, Highbridge Park, 173rd St. & Amsterdam Ave; Jerry Spearman, Photographer."

This hat vendor catered to beachgoers who feared a sunburn. In August of 1990, the *New York Times* reported, “People who once thought nothing of acquiring lobsterlike coloring are crowding beneath umbrellas.” One woman, en route to a Long Island beach, declared umbrellas essential to the trip: “The only thing better is sun block with an S.P.F. of about a zillion.”

Water hydrants and sprinklers have long held a special place in New Yorkers' memories of dealing with the heat. Residents who wanted to temporarily transform their sun-baked neighborhoods into fountains of cool relief would often jump in sprinklers or even open water hydrants illegally.

The caption reads: "Neighbors felt cut down--Argyle Road residents were stunned when workmen [in foreground] yesterday cut down four huge shade trees alongside site of addition to Public School 139 [located at 330 Rugby Road] at corner of Cortelyou Road. They insist city promised a year ago the trees would remain. One, a consulting engineer, figured cost of removal at $800. 'A ridiculous waste of taxpayers money and a handsome, tree-lined street is ruined in the bargain,' he said."

The photograph caption reads: "[C]ome, my darling daughter--Mrs. Ann La Cara of 1269 72d St. reverses ol[d adag]e about mother who warned, 'Don't go near the water,' as she tries to lure r[luctant] offspring, Patricia Ann, 4, into Steeplechase Pool. with 1,300,000 at Coney [Island y]esterday, this scene must have been duplicated at least 5,000 times."

Umbrellas provide some shade at Manhattan Beach.

The caption reads: "Wish you were here?--[Five] Red Hook kids [and one woman holding baby] escape the heat under showers at Coffey Park, Pioneer and Richards Sts. There are 110 wading pools and showers for children in Brooklyn."

An aerial view of the Fourth of July crowd on Coney Island boardwalk and beach. The pavilion is visible in the background and portions of commercial buildings can be seen on the far left.

The photograph caption reads: "Here's how they beat the heat--Mrs. Herbert Charner of 3801 18th Ave. cools her tootsies as husband forgets oars and weather on Prospect Park Lake."

A group of children cool off at Colonial Park Pool in Harlem.

The photograph caption reads: "By the shores of Coney Island--Brave souls that they were, these bathers hesitated not despite yesterday's chilly breezes in enjoying the ocean at Brooklyn's famed resort."

A close-up photograph of a baby girl wearing a bathing suit and bonnet while playing in the water on Coney Island Beach.

Shade and [water](https://mm.urbanarchive.org/li/ea413100-eede-41ca-a94d-66d53e5febdb) provide a cool oasis in midtown Manhattan on a hot summer day.

An action photograph shows a man being tossed from a blanket, all part of the fun at Coney Island Beach (July 4, 1933).

Swimmers and sunbathers enjoy Coney Island Beach and the Atlantic Ocean on a still day (August 8, 1932).

A young couple enjoys the surf at Midland Beach.

The caption provided reads, "Reporter Kenneth Johnston broke an egg on the steps of Borough hall in order to fry it. The experiment failed ..."

A woman accepts the trophy after winning the Grandma Bathing Beauty Contest at Steeplechase Park, Coney Island.

Beachgoers sit under a large sign with its reminders clearly printed: "Yes! Enjoy Coney Island, New York City Department of Parks ..."

Photograph caption reads: "Beauty and the beach--Two lovely mermaids, unmindful of the stiff breeze that tangled their tresses, prepare themselves for the first bit of sun to shine on Coney Island in many a weekend. Ann Schumann, left does the honors with the suntan lotion for beachmate Lorrie Ascher."