Martin Luther King Pool

By Kali Morgan, Summer 2024

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Pool is located at 2101-35 Cecil B. Moore Ave., 19121.
Phone: (215) 685-2733

Large L-shaped pool (double wide square with extended shallow section)
Lines and plenty of “blank space” in pool, no roped lanes in 2024 free swim visit
Ladders for pool entry/ exit
Depth: 3 to 5 feet
Direct sun, but cool water

#MyPhillyPoolTour2024
JULY 21, 2024 – UPDATE
This L-shaped pool was open for business on a Sunday afternoon with lots of children, ranging in age from tots wearing swim diapers under their suits to teenagers, all enjoying some splash time in the sun. The water temperature was medium although the pool is in the sun. I guess it’s cooler than places like Cione and Francisville because it’s only recently been filled, and therefore possibly missed the hot recent weeks.
I’d visited a few times previously over the last ten years for Aqua Zumba classes (that mostly didn’t happen but…). I’ve always liked the pool. I also have always marveled that I attended Temple University for a spell and never managed to find this on my own!
Lots of really nice chairs on the deck and a couple of umbrellas, as per #SwimPhilly upgrades. Lifeguards taking turns getting shade under a pop-up tent and some rest areas with shade and benches along the side of the pool deck.
Restrooms are in the rec center building, about 50 feet away from the pool entrance. The painted doors blend so perfectly blended with the walls that it’s hard to see them. They were closed today (although most playgrounds tend to keep the doors propped open). A pool staff person made sure I found the right place. No stairs to get into the stalls, but no bars or wheelchair-size stalls as far as I could see.
Flashback sprinkler (with pooling circular wall) in the playground is similar to the ones at Simpson and Piccoli playgrounds.

  • Photo of full MLK pool from behind the fence on Julu 17, they day before they plan to open

JULY 17, 2024
Checking out this pool. But I have to add this to the list of pools that are almost but not quite yet open. Pool staff says tomorrow, hopefully, which is hopefully true. The pool is full. I see lots of ladders, but no stairs for entrance/exit… more news soon.