America Is Losing Public Pools AT AN ALARMING RATE

BY MARCUS PACKER

Once the symbol for summer fun in urban centers around the nation, public pools have been disappearing with regularity and cities aren’t building new ones.

Public swimming pools have been a central part of American culture for over a century, offering a space for people of all backgrounds to come together, cool off, and enjoy the summer. These pools were initially built with the aim of providing recreation and hygiene to urban communities, regardless of race or class. However, a complex history of segregation, suburbanization, and funding challenges has resulted in a significant decline in public pools, depriving many communities of vital recreational spaces.

In the early 20th century, public pools were bustling hubs of social interaction, boasting unique designs that catered to the delight of the masses. In major urban metros, these pools provided leisure and fun for large segments of the population. Unfortunately, as the civil rights movement sought to integrate these spaces, racial tensions escalated, and many cities officially segregated their pools. The subsequent surge of private pools and suburbanization further perpetuated the decline of public swim facilities in urban areas.

Today, the disappearance of urban swimming culture represents a significant loss for city dwellers. Not only did these pools foster a sense of community and social cohesion, but they also provided an opportunity for children, particularly African-Americans, to learn to swim—an essential life skill. As public pools vanished, swimming disparities widened, with many low-income families and minority groups lacking access to affordable swimming opportunities.

According to Jeff Wiltse, the author of Contested Waters, during the early 20th century, there was a significant rise in public swimming facilities primarily established for bathing and hygiene purposes. These municipal pools gained immense popularity, but they were segregated by gender due to concerns about potential sexual impropriety. Moreover, similar to many other public facilities of that time, these new pools were disproportionately concentrated in white neighborhoods.

An alarming number of public pools continues to evaporate each year and the problem appears systemic all over the United States. The city of Louisville, for example, serves as a glaring example of the decline of public swim spaces.

Once home to ten public swim facilities, the city now has only four and this summer only two are open. This leaves thousands of residents, predominantly Black and lower-income households, without easy access to water during sweltering summer months. Even efforts to renovate existing pools or allocate funding for YMCA passes have fallen short of the ideal solution—an indoor swimming center accessible year-round.

To put the problem into perspective, in 2009, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated there were 600,000 public pools in America. Today, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance estimates there are 309,000 public pools currently in operation and that number continues to decline.

Restoring public pools to their former glory won’t be easy. The heyday of building public swimming facilities was fueled by government initiatives like the New Deal in the 1930s, but current budget constraints make it challenging for cities to build and maintain new pools. Additionally, changing societal dynamics, such as scheduled summer activities and the perception of public pools as dingy and unsafe, have contributed to the declining interest in public pools.