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Philadelphia Expands Public Pools With Rolling Openings

City leaders say how fast more sites open will depend on hiring and training lifeguards as seven pools stay closed for $70 million in upgrades.

Overview

  • The city began the summer rollout Friday, June 12, opening Hunting Park and Kelly pools and scheduling incremental openings that expand to 10 sites the following week.
  • Philadelphia plans to open 60 outdoor pools this summer, up from 41 in 2025, with a phased schedule that the city says will continue as staff become available.
  • Hiring and training nearly 400 lifeguards and maintenance staff is the main constraint the city cited for the pace of openings and programming.
  • Seven neighborhood pools will remain closed for the full season while the city completes $70 million in long-term reconstruction and upgrades.
  • Residents are urged to use the Parks & Rec Finder App for current hours, swim lessons, and site changes, and the city is also adding spraygrounds such as the new Wharton Square site for quick heat relief.