PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed)— A long-closed community pool on the city of Philadelphia’s west side may soon reopen, thanks to a newly formed nonprofit organization working to restore the facility and provide swimming opportunities for local youth.
David Carter, president of the Westside Pool Association, said the group is raising funds from private citizens and local business leaders to repair and reopen the pool, which has been closed for more than 10 years.
Carter noted that while the city provides funding toward Northside Park, very little funding remains available for Westside residents.
“We’re trying to raise about $150,000,” Carter said. “Around $100,000 will go toward repairs, and $50,000 will be for first-year startup costs. After that, revenue will continue based on pool use.”
If fundraising is successful, Carter said the goal is to open the pool by May. If not, the association plans to apply for grants, which could delay the opening until later in the summer.
Rep. Keith Jackson is currently working with the group to assist with organizational efforts.
“This is not recreation,” Carter said. “This is a life skill.”
Carter explained that the inability to swim can limit opportunities for young people, including meeting basic training requirements for the military.
“Mississippi has 34 pools operated by cities and counties, 13 YMCA pools, and four public pools run by associations like we are proposing,” Carter said. “If other people can do it, why can’t we?”
Carter also referenced the tragic drowning of Jamarion and Camarion Grady at Lake Pushmataha in April 2025.
“The sad part is that the 10 people on the bank couldn’t swim either and couldn’t jump in to save them,” he said. “This is preventable. If we taught these kids how to swim, we wouldn’t be in that situation.”
Carter noted that 55 percent of the city’s population is made up of people of color and stressed that a community pool would give all residents the opportunity to learn how to swim.
Last week, the City of Philadelphia Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted to transfer ownership of the Westside Pool to the nonprofit organization during a regular meeting on Feb. 17. The decision follows months of discussion regarding liability concerns and repair costs. The pool has been closed for more than a decade.
Late last year, aldermen rejected a $143,000 federal grant that would have required the city to cover half of the repair costs upfront. That decision led to the creation of the nonprofit organization to oversee restoration efforts.
Carter said the pool structure remains in generally good condition but requires several updates for safety and operation. Planned repairs include replacing outdated drains, repairing loose tile, sandblasting and replastering the pool, installing new pumps and filters, and repairing the adjacent kiddie pool.
“It’s got good bones,” Carter said. “For as long as it’s been closed, it’s in pretty decent shape.”
In addition to construction costs, the association must also cover fencing improvements, safety equipment, utilities, insurance, and lifeguard staffing.
Carter said the organization hopes to rely on many small donations rather than a few large contributors.
“We want people to have some skin in the game,” he said. “This is a community project, and we want the community to feel invested in it.”
One of the association’s main goals is to offer free swimming lessons for children. The group is also considering dedicating the pool in memory of Jamarion and Camarion Grady.
“We’ve lost too many of our young people,” Carter said. “Teaching kids how to swim is one of the most important things we can do.”
Under the terms of the transfer, ownership of the property will revert to the city if the pool is not used as a swimming facility within two years. The surrounding park and community center remain under city ownership and are not part of the transfer.
The Westside Pool Association is now accepting donations from the community. Contributions may be made at any The Citizens Bank branch by depositing funds into the Westside Pool Association account.
For more information, residents may call (601) 663-6240 or (601) 728-0311. The organization is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-deductible.
