As sweltering temperatures bake Philadelphia, the city has opened three public pools just in time to provide relief from the intense heat wave. On Monday, Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson attended the ceremonial first jump at Chew Playground’s newly opened pool in the Point Breeze neighborhood, along with two eager local kids ready to dive in. In this article we talk about Philly Opens 3 Pools Right on Time for Heat Wave.
Excitement at Chew Playground Pool
According to CBS NEWS, Nine-year-old Averie Billups and 12-year-old Ashton Billups shared their excitement about the opening of the Chew Playground pool, a cherished neighborhood spot. “It felt really good and the pool wasn’t really cold at all,” remarked Averie after taking the inaugural jump. The Chew Playground pool is one of 60 public pools throughout Philadelphia scheduled to open in the coming weeks as the summer heats up.
Community Benefits of Public Pools
In addition to providing recreation, Philadelphia’s public pools give youth a place to find respite from sweltering summer temperatures. “I feel like it’s a good thing that they’re opening because it’s very hot out,” said 11-year-old Quinn Smith, who came to swim at Chew Playground pool along with her 5-year-old brother Benjamin.
Longtime South Philadelphia resident and Eagles superfan Monty G. fondly recalled learning to swim at Chew Playground’s pool years ago. “This is the pool that I started off in and the pool I learned how to swim in,” he reminisced. “I’m definitely going to come through here and bring my grandchildren and have them get into the water, and we’re going to enjoy this nice, hot weather now.”
Challenges and Efforts in Pool Operations
Ensuring pools open timely before the heat arrives comes with challenges, including hiring adequate staff. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation shared that while the department successfully recruited 350 lifeguards to monitor activities across city pools this summer, they could utilize 50 more. “We’ve offered bonuses, training for free so they’ve been given a lot of opportunity,” commented Anne Marie Dunne, Deputy Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
Summertime Programs and Initiatives
In addition to public swimming times, Philadelphia pools host summertime initiatives engaging community youth. Parks & Recreation aims to provide swim lessons for approximately 6,000 summer camp attendees at city pools this season. Program coordinators also hope some campers may pursue future jobs as city lifeguards down the road.
Pool Hours and Additional Cooling Options
Standard public swimming hours at Philadelphia pools run from 11 AM to 7 PM. “Throughout the city, where there are gaps, we have spraygrounds and sprinklers in our facility as well, so they’re another way for people to cool off during summer,” Deputy Commissioner Dunne added.
With temperatures rising into the 90s this week, Philadelphia pools offer families, kids, and residents of all ages an oasis to find relief while having summer fun. Thanks to diligent preparation and hiring efforts, 60 city pools are opening just ahead of the first major heat wave to provide safe, accessible options for beating the heat. I sincerely hope you find this “Philly Opens 3 Pools Right on Time for Heat Wave-Find Out Details” article helpful.
Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.
