Germantown
- Facility:
- Pickett School Indoor Pool
- Address:
- 5700 Wayne Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144
- Status:
- Needs Renovation
- Goal:
- Full rehabilitation to restore year-round aquatics programs to Germantown residents.
Reclaim Our Pools: Bring Year-Round Aquatics to Every Philly Neighborhood
Water safety, recreation, and health shouldn't depend on your zip code.
Across Philadelphia, closed and neglected indoor pools sit empty. While outdoor pools offer summer relief, indoor pools are essential community assets that provide year-round swimming lessons, senior exercise programs, youth recreation, and lifeguard training.
Many people don't realize that the School District of Philadelphia owns these indoor pool facilities. Because of this, restoring closed pools and expanding hours requires direct action from the School Board, District administration, state legislators, and local elected officials working together.
Friends of Philly Aquatics is calling on everyone—our neighbors, residents, and all Philadelphians—to stand with us. Together, we must push the School District, state representatives, and local government to prioritize capital funding, repairs, and community access so these neighborhood assets can come back to life.
School District Pools Needing Renovation & Reopening
We are advocating for immediate capital investment, structural repairs, and clear operational plans for these School District-owned facilities:
Nicetown / Tioga
- Facility:
- Marcus Foster Indoor Pool
- Address:
- 1600 Staub St, Philadelphia, PA 19140
- Status:
- Needs a Complete Rebuild
- Goal:
- Secure full capital allocation to rebuild a modern, accessible community pool.
Allegheny West
- Facility:
- E. W. Rhodes Indoor Pool
- Address:
- 2900 W. Clearfield Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132
- Status:
- Slated for Renovation
- Goal:
- Hold district officials to their timeline and ensure renovation plans move forward without delay.
West Philadelphia
- Facility:
- Sayre Indoor Pool
- Address:
- 5825 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139
- Status:
- Pending Renovations
- Goal:
- Push approved/pending funding into active construction and operational reopening.
Southwest Philadelphia
- Facility:
- Motivation Indoor Pool
- Address:
- 5900 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143
- Status:
- Needs Renovation
- Goal:
- Modernize facilities to serve youth, families, and seniors in Southwest Philly.
Operational School District Aquatic Facilities
In addition to closed facilities, several School District-owned indoor pools are currently in operation—serving students, specialized educational programs, and community swim programs:
- Lincoln High School Pool — 3201 Ryan Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19136
- Fels High School Pool — 5500 Langdon St, Philadelphia, PA 19124
- Widener Memorial School Pool — 1450 W. Olney Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19141(Specialized K–12 adaptive hydro-mobility and aquatics facility)
Our Call to Action: These active pools show what is possible when aquatic facilities are maintained. We urge the School District of Philadelphia, State, and Local Government to maximize public access, extend operational hours, and ensure these facilities remain fully funded and accessible to all Philadelphians year-round.
How You Can Take Action
Real change happens when the entire city raises its voice together. Here is how you, your neighbors, and all Philadelphians can help put indoor pools at the top of the agenda:
Demand Action from the School Board & State Representatives:
Attend SDP Board of Education meetings and reach out to your PA state legislators to advocate for dedicated capital grants and operational grants for public school aquatics.
Contact Your Local Elected Officials:
Urge your City Council Representatives and the Mayor's Office to support city-school partnerships for indoor pool operations.
Mobilize Your Neighborhood:
Bring this issue to your local community organization, block association, or RCO meeting to organize neighborhood turnouts.
Spread the Word:
Share this page with family, friends, and social networks using #ReclaimPhillyPools and #PhillyAquaticsForAll.