City pools to open early
Jeremy M. Lazarus | 5/25/2023, 6 p.m.
City Hall will open five outdoor swimming pools for the Memorial Day holiday.
The pools that will open for the holiday include Battery Park, 2719 Dupont Circle; Blackwell, 1500 block of Maury Street; Fairmount Pool, 2000 U St.; Powhatan, 5051 Northampton St.; and Randolph, 1507 Grayland Ave.
According to city officials, all five will operate from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 27; Sunday, May 28; and Monday, May 29.
This is the third year that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities has launched the outdoor pools during the holiday. Previously, the department operated four pools for the holiday weekend.
“We are excited to open most of our pools early,” Christopher Frelke, department director, said.
He added that he “is delighted to report” that the department has hired and trained a full complement of lifeguards this year. Lifeguard numbers dwindled in Richmond and across the country during the pandemic, creating staffing problems for public and private pools.
The five pools also will operate from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4, according to the department.
Two additional pools, Hotchkiss at 701 E. Brookland Park Blvd. and Woodville at 2305 Fairfield Ave., will open on Saturday, June 10, the day after Richmond Public Schools closes for students on Friday, June 9.
All seven pools will be open seven days a week through Labor Day, with longer hours on weekdays, according to the city.
