It’s a new year, and there are some new year-round public pool developments on the West Philadelphia horizon, although they will be a few years in the making.

In November, I learned through Philly Public Pools Instagram about a meeting related to reopening the Sayre Pool, a drained indoor pool in a building owned by the School District but managed as a City Department of Parks and Recreation recreation center, near 59th and Spruce Streets.

Although I took karate classes in that facility in the late 1980s with a roommate’s daughter, I’d never visited or really been aware of the pool (though I do have memories of its chlorine smell).

The local community is devoted to Sayre and has felt the pain of its absence since it was closed by the City in 2017 due to massive building issues caused by a leaking roof. Prior to its closure, Sayre Pool hosted dozens of community classes and services. Residents from the neighborhood and beyond used the facility every day. These Sayre Pool enthusiasts now use other community (but not public) pools in other parts of the city where they have followed their favorite Sayre lifeguards and instructors. Following a former Sayre lifeguard who taught fitness classes at Mill Creek this past summer is how I met many of these folks, who I continue to work out with in Northwest because they no longer have access to the Sayre Pool.

At the November community meeting at Sayre-Morris Rec Center, hosted by City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, School District consultants unveiled a plan to completely redesign the small recreation center building and its beloved, long-closed pool. The ~100 neighbors attending were very excited by the prospect, although some expressed concern that the building is too small and that they were hoping for expansion, or at least for the renovations to also include repairs to the neglected playground and other outdoor sections of the property. Representatives from the School District and City Council took notes on the conversations between community members and the architects/designers who will be drawing the plans for this extensive project.

NEXT STEP: ACTION NEEDED
This week, the Council office sent a follow up to all attendees of the November meeting asking for help circulating a survey that will collect responses until February 4.

It is vital that interested parties complete this survey now, and share it with other neighbors, swimmers and public pool supporters!

Keep an eye on this blog and the Philly Public Pools Instagram for information about other upcoming meetings.