Philadelphia public pools open for summer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Amid a nationwide lifeguard shortage affecting public pools, Philadelphia implemented a hiring bonus for the first time to try to get more applicants.
Anyone who completed the lifeguard application early and works through the summer season will receive a $1,000 bonus.
"As far as I know, prior to 2020 is the last time we could open every one available," Bill Salvatore, the Deputy Commissioner of Programs, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation said.
The city is opening its first public pools on June 14, a week earlier than last year.
And for the first time in four years, the city has enough lifeguards to open all 61 available pools this summer on a rolling basis.
Salvatore says it's especially important that this pool is opening because Hunting Park is disproportionately affected by heat waves.
"In the park itself, there's ample tree cover, but as you get into the neighborhoods, the tree covers are a little lacking so, all the more reason to have a big giant pool in the middle of Hunting Park for people to cool off," Salvatore said.
Hunting Park will be one of three pools opening to the public at noon on June 14. The Hunting Park pool will be re-opened for the first time since 2019. The Fletcher Pool in Mill Creek and the Samuel Recreation Center pool in Port Richmond are also opening June 14.
And when people come to visit, they'll be greeted by beautiful new artwork painted on the pool deck.
Mural Arts is painting murals at 10 city pools to spread color and joy.
"Four artists have designed 10 designs for 10 pools. We're painting the pools and we're going to put out furniture and plants and umbrellas and kind of create these almost quasi-private, they'll feel like private pools, but they're public pools," Brian Campbell, the Project Manager of Mural Arts.
Here's the complete list of pools:
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
- Fletcher (Mill Creek) Pool — 743 N. 48th St., 19139
- Hunting Park Pool — 900 Hunting Park Ave., 19140
- Samuel Pool — 3539 Gaul St., 19134
Thursday, June 15, 2023
- Marian Anderson Pool — 740 S. 17th St., 19146
Friday, June 16, 2023
- Jacobs Pool — 4500 Linden Ave., 19114
- Kelly Pool — 4231 Lansdowne Dr., 19131
Saturday, June 17, 2023
- Feltonville Pool — 4726-4700 Ella St, Philadelphia, PA, 19120
- Ford Pool — 609 Snyder Ave., 19148
- Morris Estate Pool — 1610 W. Chelten Ave., 19126
Sunday, June 18, 2023
- Houseman Pool — 5091 Summerdale Ave., 19124
- Lackman Pool — 1101 Bartlett St., 19115
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WEEK OF JUNE 19, 2023
Monday, June 19, 2023
- Lawncrest Pool — 6000 Rising Sun Ave., 19111
- Pleasant Pool — 6720 Boyer St., 19119
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
- Bridesburg Pool — 4625 Richmond St., 19137
- Mander Pool — 2140 N. 33rd St., 19121
- Mitchell Pool — 3700 Whitehall Ln., 19114
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
- Johnny Sample (Cobbs Creek) Pool — 280 Cobbs Creek Pkwy., 19139
- Northern Liberties Pool — 321 Fairmount Ave., 19123
- Scanlon Pool — 1099 E. Tioga St., 19134
Thusday, June 22, 2023
- American Legion Pool — 6201 Torresdale Ave., 19135
Friday, June 23, 2023
- Jardel Pool — 1400 Cottman Ave., 19111
- Kendrick Pool — 5822 Ridge Ave., 19128
Saturday, June 24, 2023
- Francisville Pool — 1737 Francis St., 19130
- Christy Pool — 728 S. 55th St., 19143
Sunday, June 25, 2023
- O'Connor Pool — 2601 South St., 19146
- Piccoli Pool — 1501 E. Bristol Ave., 19124
- Sacks Pool — 400 Washington Ave., 19147
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WEEK OF JUNE 26, 2023
Monday, June 26, 2023
- Athletic Pool — 1401 N. 26th St., 19121
- Lederer (Fishtown) Pool — 1219-25 E Montgomery Ave., 19125
- Waterloo Pool — 2502 N. Howard St., 19133
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
- C.B. Moore Pool — 2551 N. 22nd St., 19132
- Ridgway Pool — 1301 Carpenter St., Philadelphia, PA, 19147
- Vogt Pool — 4131 Unruh Ave., 19135
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
- Chew Pool — 1800 Washington Ave., 19146
- East Poplar Pool — 820 N. 8th St., 19123
- Shepard Pool — 5700 Haverford Ave., 19131
Thursday, June 29, 2023
- Finnegan Pool — 6801 Grovers Ave., 19142
- Lonnie Young Pool — 1100 E. Chelten Ave., 19138
Friday, June 30, 2023
- Cione Pool — 2600 E. Aramingo Ave., 19125
- Simpson Pool — 1010 Arrott St., 19124
Saturday, July 1, 2023
- Awbury Pool — 6101 Ardleigh St., 19138
- F.J. Myers Pool — 5800 Chester Ave., 19143
- Hancock Pool — 147 Master St., 19122
Monday, July 2, 2023
- Barry Pool — 1800 Johnston St., 19145
- Cherashore Pool — 851-951 W. Olney Ave., 19120
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Monday, July 3, 2023
- Fox Chase Pool — 7901 Ridgeway St., 19111
- Lee Pool — 4328 Haverford Ave., 19104
- Lincoln Pool — 3201 Ryan Ave., 19136
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
- Butch Ellis Pool (39th & Olive) — 700 N. 39th St., 19104
- M.L. King, Jr. Pool — 2101 Cecil B. Moore Ave., 19121
- Murphy Pool — 300 W. Shunk St., 19148
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
- Heitzman Pool — 2136 Castor Ave., 19134
Pools expected to open after July 5, 2023
- Amos Pool — 1817 N. 16th St., 19121
- Baker Pool — 5433 Lansdowne Ave., 19131
- Belfield Pool — 2109 W. Chew Ave., 19138
- Cruz Playground — 1431 6th St., 19122
- Dendy Pool — 1501-39 N. 10th St., 19122
- Gathers Pool — 2501 Diamond St., 19121
- Shuler Pool — 3000 N. 27th St., 19132
- Stinger Square — 1400 S. 32nd St., 19146
- Tustin Pool — 5901 W. Columbia Ave., 19151
To see the full map of pools opening this summer visit Philadelphia's Parks and Recreation website.
