WhyonearthwouldanyonewanttofloatapooluptheAtlanticcoastlinetobringittorestatapierontheNewYorkCitywaterfront?InTheFloatingPoolLady,AnnL.ButtenwieserrecountshertriumphantadventurethatstartedinthebayousofLouisianaandendedwithaself-sustaining,floatingswimmingpoolmooredinNewYorkHarbor.WhenButtenwieserdecidedsomethingneededtobedonetohelprevitalizetheNewYorkCitywaterfront,shereachedintothecity’snineteenth-centurypastforinspiration.ButtenwieserwantedNewYorkerstoreestablishtheirconnectiontotheirriverinesurroundingsandshewasenergizedbytheprospectofcityyouthreturningtotheHudsonandEastRivers.Whatshedidn’tsuspectwasthatoutfittinganddonatingaswimmingfacilityforfreeenjoymentbythepublicwouldturnintoanalmost-Sisypheantask.AsshedescribesinTheFloatingPoolLady,Buttenwieserbattledforyearswithpoliticiansandstruggledwithbureaucratsasshebroughther“crazy“schemetofruition.FromdustyarchivesinthehistoricBatteryMaritimeBuildingtohigh-stakescommunityboardmeetingstotensenegotiationsintheLouisianashipyard,ButtenwieserretellstheimprobableprocessthatledtoapoolnamedTheFloatingPoolLadytyinguptoapieratBarrettoPointParkintheBronx,readyforsummerswimmers.ThroughoutTheFloatingPoolLady,Buttenwieserraisesconsciousnessaboutpersistentenvironmentalissuesandthechallengesofdevelopingaconstituencyforprojectstomakecitieslivableinthetwenty-firstcentury.Herstoryandthatofherfloatingpoolfunctionasbothwarningandinspirationtothosewhodaretodreamofrealizinginnovativepublicprojectsinthemodernurbanlandscape.
