Gathers Pool

By Kali Morgan, Summer 2024

Hank Gathers Pool is at 2501-19 W Diamond St., 19121.
Phone: (215) 685-2710
Gathers Rec Facebook (last update 2023)

Rectangular pool
Depth: 3 to 6 feet
Ladders for water entry/exit
Must enter pool through recreation center
No lanes or lines
Men’s and women’s rooms with stalls in air conditioned rec center

#MyPhillyPoolTour2024
JULY 17, 2024
After my fun and rigorous noon workout with Nancy at Mander Playground, I made my way down Diamond Street to the other side of the tracks from Fairmount Park. This rec center is on my list as having a pool. But at first, I don’t see the pool. Or the rec center even.
I saw the leaf mosaic and rental bikes out front on Diamond Street, telling me there is some money coming into the neighborhood, although it is not as obvious as in other parts of North Philadelphia that are actively being built up.
Once I backtracked behind the bikes, I saw the splashing of small children getting wet in the playground’s water garden. They waved at me as I walked past them in search of the pool, which is located a good 15 feet below ground level from the main playground.
To enter the pool, a staffer taking a break directed me behind the gate and around the corner to the rec center. You enter through a gate on the 25th Street side, which brings you through a rear door of the rec center to the pool area (the gate is only accessible to staff).
With the walls surrounding it, the pool has the illusion of privacy, although anyone in the playground above has a bird’s-eye view of the goings on inside the big rectangle with eight ladders — enjoyed by about 50 people, mostly kids, on this warm Wednesday afternoon.
Not the most accessible pool or rec center building. Indoor bathrooms are clean but are not wheelchair accessible. The indoor water fountain/water bottle refill station is nice and cold, and the rec center is very well air conditioned.
Pool water is cold (though not freezing). The vibe is cool on this hot day.
It’s fine to bring your bags into the pool area.
There is absolutely no poolside seating except for lifeguard chairs. Really not a
very large deck at all given the size of the pool.

  • Screen capture of City Pool webpage incorrectly indicating that the pool is "closed to the public "
  • Screen capture of City Pool webpage incorrectly indicating that the pool is “closed to the public”

On my way out, I ran into Nancy, the leader of the class I just took at Mander Pool, who told me her daughter works at this rec center.
I explored the playground a bit more. Walls around the pool appear to be designed to prevent people from breaking in at night (my teenage self is disappointed by this realization).