Public Pools Hope to Stay Afloat This Summer

Last summer, city budget cuts left Philadelphia's community recreation reeling from a significant decrease in funding. Only 45 of the city's 69 public swimming pools remained open, a change that was met with a great deal of public distaste and outcry.

Mayor Michael Nutter has made these pools a priority for this summer, creating the Splash and Summer FUNd campaign. The initiative, which involves a partnership with the United Way, aims to keep all 69 public pools open by collecting a combined $2.4 million in donations from individuals and businesses.

“The global recession has forced us to make hard choices in order to balance our budget, including, unfortunately, not opening all of our city’s pools,” Mayor Nutter said in a YouTube video introducing the campaign.

In neighborhoods like Strawberry Mansion, swimming pools like Mander Playground’s at 33^rd and Diamond streets and the Athletic Recreation Center at 26^th and Master streets, are an integral part of the community and provide a safe activity for its youth.

So far, the campaign has only raised around $500,000, but the Mayor and other city officials hope to continue to see donations pouring in, as well as community volunteers to help spread the word on the campaign and gain support of Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Kevin Brosky and Keith Aiken
Group 44, Strawberry Mansion