Rockaway Hotel

The Rockaway peninsula in Queens, New York, experiences surprisingly strong currents, including a high frequency of rip currents, despite the appearance of relatively calm waters. Dozens of individuals drown annually at Rockaway Beach, often while swimming alone when lifeguards are not on duty. The average age of drowning victims at Rockaway is 16 years old. TRH and RTE initiated a swimming program to provide water safety training to the Rockaway Beach community, aligning with the shared goals of uplifting and empowering individuals in need. To date, over 300 youth have received swimming lessons in the hotel pool. The pilot was completed in August 2021, and summer 2025 will mark the fifth year of established programming.