One of the most popular questions asked on Facebook during #MySummerPoolTour2024 (second only to queries about accessible pool entry) was whether there were dedicated lap lanes in each public pool. The sad answer is “No,” at least in most cases.
This is so very sad in light of the historical significance of Philadelphia swim teams like the one coached by JIm Ellis. Without the ability to practice, where will Philly’s next generations of champions practice without having to pay?
Where can lap swimmers work out in philly pools?
Francisville, Cruz, Max Myers and Vogt have extended deeper water areas that naturally attract lap swimmers, although there are not roped off lanes or even necesarily lane lines in those locations.
In the 2024 season these were the observed options for lap swimming
1. O’Connor Pool has a roped off lane for laps that is stays roped off even during free swims, although kids jump into that lane freely without correction.
2. Lee Pool added a lap lane (at least for adult swim periods) in Jul 2024.
3 Francisville, Cruz, has an elongated deep end that is favored by lap swimmer and seems to naturally select for that although it is not part of the planning.
4.Kelly Pool has multiple dedicated lap lanes at all times, a system that should serve as a model for other Philly public pools

Kelly Pool as a system model laps swimming at other pools
In the Olympic sized Kelly Pool there are three ingeniously planned permanent swimming lanes dedicated exclusively to laps swimming. These three lanes account for a vertical half of the pool- one fast swimming lane, one medium speed lane and one slow swimming lane. This plan focused on-duty lifeguards in a more organized fashion- , one guard monitors the lap swimmers and the remaining on-duty guards monitored free swimmers, game players and splashing families in the other half of the pool during free swim.. This System could easily be copied in other pools, especially large pools like Hunting Park, Cobbs Creek , Finnegan and even Gathers as well the L-shaped T-shaped pools with a longer deeper water section like Francisville, Cruz, Max Myers and Vogt
Ask your pool to provide dedicated lap lane swimming because of the benefits:
1. Increasing the safety focus on beginners by separating advanced swimmers
2. Providing space for athletic practice of amateur and professional swimmers
3. Allowing adults / advanced swimmers move freely without interacting with or bumping beginners
4. Encouraging stamina practice for a generation of much needed potential lifeguards of all ages to assuage the current national shortage of lifeguards.