Piccoli Playground Pool is at 1501 E. Bristol St., 19124
Phone:
Piccoli Playground on Facebook

Polygonal L-shaped pool (rectangle with extra shallow/ tot area)
Water depth 2-5′
No lanes or lines
Full sun, temperate water
Ladders for pool entry/ esit
Stairs required to enter pool deck from Bristol Street and Castor Ave
Possible stair-free entry to pull deck from playground gate
Dress code relaxed

#MyPhillyPoolTour2024
JULY 20
#MyPhillyPoolTour2024

I swam here several times between the years of 1976 and 1985 and I do finally remember the pool, but I couldn’t visualize it as I drove between Simpson pool and here today. This pool is bigger than Simpsons, but similar in shape and scope.  I was also the closest pool for us to walk through from Simpson when that pool was full during free swim although sometimes there was double disappointment

The playground is about to be redone, which will make it more accessible – thank goodness since it is not very accessible at the moment –but I’m thankful to see it before the overhaul happens and I’m thankful that the playground is open this summer and not shut down like so many in WestPhilly

Stairs are required to access the pool from the main gate at Bristol St and Castor Av, but there is a back door to the pool that may be accessible via chair, even though they do not have a chair lift in the pool.

It’s a fully L-shaped pool with a flushed out shallow to section that has stairs and railings in the the shallow part of the pool.

Depth ranged from 2 feet to 5 feet.

Water temperature was mild and even with half the pool closed there is still plenty of space to party  during this Saturday afternoon free swim.

They did not seem to be stressed about the dress code at all. People were wearing hats and T-shirts  with a variety of ages, families plus single adults plus older kids. 

There are not even lap lines painted on the bottom of this pool, although there is plenty of room to swim.

Be aware, the rec center and toilets are a full block away from the pool entrance so you might want to stop in before you jump in the pool. Oddly, there was a wheelchair ramp to the men’s room but a step required to get into the women’s room.

The thing I was most thankful for was that the old-school style sprinkler still had a pool for kids with no dress code so that kids could sit in the water even if they didn’t have shorts, etc. and I suppose if the pool got full enough, they could hang out there until the next shift opens.

Looking forward to seeing the finished product of the Piccoli Park makeover in the future. But I secretly hope that the seals at the fountain (which match the seals at Mander’s pool entry)) find good homes and live on!