Philly public pools are officially back in session. With a heat wave on the way, pools are a chance for people to cool off during summer vacation. With 350 lifeguards hired for the summer, the first batch of pools have opened. NBC10’s Karen Hua has the latest on which are open and the many more to come.
The time is here to dip your feet or your whole body in the water because Philadelphia's free public swimming pools are starting to open for the summer of 2024.
Students with the School District of Philadelphia had their last day of school on Friday and only had to wait until Monday to take advantage of some of the free public pools in the city.
Philadelphia's Parks and Recreation Department announced that all of the city's 60 outdoor pools will be open soon for the season.
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The first batch of 25 pools opens this week in the midst of an expected heat wave.
"It takes months of preparation across City departments to get our beloved public pools ready for a summer of fun," Mayor Cherelle Parker said. "I’m grateful in particular to all of the Parks & Rec staff who recruited and hired lifeguards and pool staff; painted and fixed pools; and ensured they are welcoming for deserving residents."
It takes about 350 lifeguards and 305 pool maintenance people to keep the pools open, the city said.
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All of the pools will offer swim lessons for children, for free.
Swim lessons will be mandatory for the over 6,000 summer camp participants, officials said.
"We are also offering aquatics programming that includes adult fitness classes, thanks to support from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health," Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Deputy Commissioner of Programs AnneMarie Dunne said. "There’s something for Philadelphians of all ages to enjoy at their local pool."
Depending on staffing on any given day, hours may vary for each pool but they are scheduled to be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every day.
See below for the list of the first scheduled pool openings in Philadelphia.
Week of June 24, 2024
Monday, June 24
- Cione Pool located at 2600 East Aramingo Avenue
- Jardel Pool located at 1400 Cottman Avenue
- O'Connor Pool located at 2601 South Street
- Pleasant Pool located at 6720 Boyer Street
Tuesday, June 25
- Jacobs Pool located at 4500 Linden Avenue
- Simpson Pool located at 1010 Arrott Street
Wednesday, June 26
- Awbury Pool located at 6101 Ardleigh Street
- Northern Liberties Pool located at 321 Fairmount Avenue
- Waterloo Pool located at 2502 North Howard Street
Thursday, June 27
- Butch Ellis Pool (39th & Olive) located at 700 North 39th Street
- East Poplar Pool located at 820 North 8th Street
- Lee Pool located at 4328 Haverford Avenue
- Mander Pool located at 2140 North 33rd Street
- Marian Anderson Pool located at 740 South 17th Street
Friday, June 28
- Hancock Pool located at 147 Master Street
- Heitzman Pool located at 2136 Castor Avenue
Saturday, June 29
- Schmidt Pool located at 113-23 West Ontario Street
Pools now open:
- Chew Pool located at 1800 Washington Avenue
- Kelly Pool located at 4231 Lansdowne Drive (delayed due to mechanical issue)
- Hunting Park Pool located at 900 Hunting Park Avenue
- Scanlon Pool located at 1099 East Tioga Street
- Mitchell Pool located at 3700 Whitehall Lane
- Penrose Pool located at 1101 West Susquehanna Avenue
- Fishtown Pool located at 1202-32 East Montgomery Avenue
- Christy Pool located at 728 South 55th Street
- Kendrick Pool located at 5822-24 Ridge Avenue
- Murphy Pool located at 300 Shunk Street
- Fox Chase Pool located at 7901 Ridgeway Street
- Lonnie Young Pool located at 1100 East Chelten Avenue
- Vogt Pool located at 4131 Unruh Avenue
- Cherashore Pool located at 851-951 West Olney Avenue
- Houseman Pool located at Summerdale Avenue
- American Legion Pool located at 6210 Torresdale Avenue
- Shepard Pool located at 5700 Haverford Avenue
- Gathers Pool located at 2501-19 West Diamond Street
- Bridesburg Pool located at 4625 Richmond Street
- J. Finnegan Pool located at 6801 Grovers Avenue
- Barry Pool located at 1800 Johnston Street
- Samuel Pool located at 3539 Gaul Street
- Lackman Pool located at 1101 Bartlett Street
- Sacks Pool located at 400 Washington Avenue
- Francisville Pool located at 1737 Francis Street
Ten of the city's pools will not open this year: Amos Pool, Baker Pool, CB Moore Pool, Cohen (Hillside) Pool, Cohox Pool, F.J. Myers Pool, Kingsessing Pool, McVeigh Pool, Sample Pool and Ziehler Pool.
Check back here for updates as the city releases more opening dates for the rest of Philly's pools.
