Episode Details

Today’s aquatic facilities are more welcoming and inclusive

By Mary Helen Sprecher

Swimming pools are as much a part of summer as the end of school, Popsicles, and bright, sunny days. And with the worst of the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, it’s time for those facilities to welcome back the crowds.

Or is it? Nationwide, pools have undergone plenty of changes to become more inclusive and user-friendly—meaning they welcome users at all levels of ability. Has your pool kept up? A number of trends have been at work, and they have, overall, changed the face of swimming pools.

First, to be absolutely clear, the traditional pool—a rectangular body of water with a deep end and a shallow end, racing lanes, a diving board or two, and maybe even a slide—isn’t going anywhere. It definitely has its place in the park, and in the community as a whole. It’s a great place for conducting leagues, teaching lessons, having district-wide swim meets, and hosting swim time for day camps and other programs. And, after work hours, adults find a pool a fun place at which to socialize and relax, and a nice opportunity for swimmers to get in some lap time. 

When combined with other sports and recreational facilities—picnic areas, beach volleyball courts, and playgrounds—the traditional swimming pools can be a true community hub. But changes are afoot and should be noted. In some cases, these are driven by the need for facilities to be more inclusive.