Most Pittsburgh city pools set to open June 17

The Pittsburgh public pools are set to open just in time for summer break.

Officials announced Friday that 15 of the city’s 18 pools will open starting June 17.

The pools planned to open are Ammon, Banksville, Highland, Jack Stack, Magee, McBride, Moore, Phillips, Ormsby, Ream, Riverview, Schenley, Sue Murray, West Penn and Westwood.

A number of pools opening will be on limited schedules, with Banksville and Riverview opened Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and McBride and Sue Murray opened Monday through Friday.

Bloomfield, Homewood, and Sheraden pools are closed for the season.

Pittsburgh, like many cities across the country, has struggled to recruit enough lifeguards to open all of its pools, but it’s unclear if that is the reason for three pools not opening this summer.

The city recruited 145 lifeguards this season, which is more than it attracted last year. Last month, officials said they’d need a total of about 155 lifeguards to operate all pools.

“We appreciate the community’s support in this year’s lifeguard recruitment efforts,” CitiParks director Kathryn Vargas. “We are encouraged with the growth of our team and being able to open 15 pools.”

City spokeswoman Maria Montaño said Sheraden was closed due to renovations and Homewood pool was closed because the park was seeing major renovations.

She said Bloomfield pool would not be opening because of a major leak in the deep end of the pool, as well as tear in the pool’s liner that needed to be replaced. Montaño said the vendor to replace the liner has a six month wait, so it’s unlikely the fixes will be made before the summer ends.

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Deb Gross, D-Highland Park, represents Bloomfield and said she is extremely upset that Bloomfield’s pool, affectionately called Bloomfield Beach, will remain closed.

She said city council was assured up until last week that the Bloomfield pool would open.

“First we were told there would be a delay to repair concrete and now we are told that the liner replacement may prevent Bloomfield Beach from opening this season,” said Gross. “It is a sad day.”

She said she is looking for any funds that might expedite any part of the repairs.

Despite the closures, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said he is pleased the city was able to open 15 pools this summer, which is up from 12 that the city opened last year.

Vargas said they hope the lifeguard growth will continue and allow CitiParks in the future to bring back programs such as learn-to-swim lessons, water aerobics and swim team.

“Director Vargas and her team worked hard again this year to ensure residents had pools open this summer,” said Gainey. “They have made great strides in onboarding lifeguards and opening more pools. I am proud of the work they have done for the people of Pittsburgh.”

A full pool schedule can be found at the CitiParks website.