Mander Playground Pool 2140 N. 33rd St., 19121
Phone: (215) 685-3894
Mander Playground Facebook
Regtangle pool with added extension for stairway (with railings!)
Wheelchair lift has bum battery Summer 2024
Belongings must be kept outside of pool deck (except towels) during free swim
(Exercise classes and camp make exceptions… check for family/ adult swim)
JULY 17TH UPDATE:
I went back with my friends Merri Beth Rich and Jenny Glover for an awesome aqua fitness class today at noon. Unlike my last visit during free swim, we were allowed to bring our belongings into the pool area today and the pool provided water float barbells for the class which was largely retirees. The class happens Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays at Saturdays at noon, and a $1 donation is requested (but not mandatory) at the gate as a donation to the playground, which seems reasonable.
There were at least 40 people in the class today, the water was perfect (cool but not cold) and the crowd was super friendly (largely folks over 50 so the three of us fit in) although they had been working out in previous weeks and knew the routines the instructor and the participants helps assure that I understood the exercises.
I also had a chance to look over the wheelchair lift and restroom/ changing facilities which are separate from the main rec building where I had previously volunteered. The pool building had a multi stall mens room and womens room with accessible stalls and between the two restrooms was a nice cold water fountain, which really hit the spot after working out.
JULY 8
In this season so far, this is the first pool I’ve been to that actually has both stairs and handrails on either side of those stairs.
Probably the last time I was in this pool I was with Heather Nicole and Jess Amberwhen they were children and there were no swim spots open at Smith playground so we came here because we were all really hot. My wife and I had both been in a few times to cool off over the years.
One thing I always remember about this pool and playground is that every time I have gone there has been music playing. Today the music was on quite low from tiny little wireless speaker on the side of the pool |which is very different from any of this seasons visits where lifeguards hae individual earphones to hear what they want and the swimers don’t concern themselves with music except for Aqua fitness classes.
I had previously volunteered at this rec center, and as I recall there were multi stall gendered restrooms inside of the building.
Baggage – we were not allowed to bring bags inside (we were allowed to bring in
our towel, clothes, and shoes only).There were bikes, strollers and bags lined up outside of the pool area , but nothing to prevent them from bringing taken, so pack light if you are concerned.
Some of the pools I went to as a kid had a similar rule I suppose to deter people from hiding others’ belongings in their bags when they leave (in spite of the “no bags” rule our towels and shoes got swiped on multiple occasions when we ere kids so I was relieved as an adult that these rules often do not seem to apply at least not during adult swim or Aqua Zumba).
Accessibility-stairs with railings! Praises be! While we were there, someone was in the pool who had left their prosthetics next to the stairs. A wheelchair was parked inside the pool area net to the entrance.
Maximum depth, 5 feet, rectangular pool with ladders and an additionnal stair entrance to the pool.
According to the rec center website, there might be a lift for wheelchair bound persons, and it is there! But the battery is bad…
Swimming Philadelphia 