Posted inCities across the country have drained public pools, leaving private clubs and backyard basins to take their place. As wellsprings of community and resources for life-saving instruction, public pools should be a priority.
First-person essay by Hanna Theile, PublicSource
It started with a text. Then another. Then a dozen Instagram stories. Pittsburgh’s community pools were opening on June 16, and my phone was lighting up like it was a major holiday — because to some of us, it was. “POOL’S OPEN!” one friend wrote. Another sent a string of blue wave emojis. Someone else shared a screenshot of the city’s announcement with the kind of urgency usually reserved for concert tickets or snow day alerts. We were not just excited about a place to swim — we were ecstatic about being together, being outside and being in the water.
That is the kind of joy and connection a community pool brings. The glimmer of water in its long-dry basin is a signal that summer has officially started. We have made it through another winter, and we get to share in the community again…