Swimming Pool Access
Definition
Availability of public swimming facilities for recreation, exercise, water safety education, and cooling during summer heat. Public pools provide free or low-cost swimming access for families who can’t afford private pools or club memberships. Pools are particularly important for child safety (learning to swim prevents drowning) and heat relief in urban heat island neighborhoods lacking air conditioning.
Louisville Context
Metro Parks operates several public pools, but West Louisville has fewer pools and many closed in recent decades due to budget cuts and deferred maintenance. Pool closures disproportionately affected Black neighborhoods—legacy of segregation when pools were often closed rather than integrated. Current public pools have limited hours and short summer seasons. Many West Louisville children never learn to swim, contributing to higher drowning rates among Black children.
Why It Matters
Access to swimming is both recreation and safety—children who don’t learn to swim are at much higher drowning risk. Pool closures in Black neighborhoods while maintaining pools in white areas is environmental racism. During increasingly hot summers, pools provide essential cooling for residents lacking air conditioning, particularly in urban heat island neighborhoods.
Dave’s Proposal
Dave will prioritize reopening closed pools in West Louisville and expanding pool hours/season length at all facilities within increased Metro Parks budget. He’ll partner with organizations like USA Swimming to provide free swim lessons in neighborhoods with lowest swimming proficiency. All pools will offer free admission during extreme heat events. Programs funded within $8 million Metro Parks increase.