Kingsessing Recreation Center, located at 50th Street and Kingsessing Ave in Southwest Philly is truly the center of its community. With its many program offerings, it serves children, adults, and families from all over Philadelphia.
Inspired by the Pop Up Pools across Philadelphia, the Kingsessing Pool Project has embarked on a mission to give the public pool at the rec center the makeover that it deserves. With a freshly-painted pool deck, seating, shade, a privacy screen and staff involvement, this is our opportunity to create a pool club oasis for everyone to enjoy!
With $1,000 already committed, we are looking to raise an additional $2,000 to really get the pool looking great this summer. We would like to purchase:
- supplies to stain the pool deck,
- deck chairs, chaise lounges,
- umbrellas, shade sails,
- puddle jumpers for children, and a
- privacy screen for the fence.
The pool project is sponsored by the Kingsessing Roadrunners, a 501(c)3 non-profit, all donations are tax-deductible. Money raised above this target will go towards greening the pool with plants, upgrading the shower facility, pool-side games for children, and possible programming.
The Kingsessing Pool Project works closely with rec center facility staff, will use the help of neighbors, staff, and PowerCorps on future project days, and is headed by local volunteer Will Tung ([email protected]). By the end of the project, we will post the cost breakdown here, so you can see how your money was spent.
*** Update July 2nd, 2019:
The pool is now open, and we have heard nothing but positive things about this project! We have already provided 40 chairs and 4 benches and would love to purchase more seating and also have a fund to maintain / replace any broken items for years to come. This is why we are raising our fundraising target to $6,000. Thank you very much and see you at the pool!
*** Update August 16th, 2019
I just wanted to thank everyone who donated and supported us for our remarkable pool beautification project this summer! We managed to raise over $3,500 in community donations and have obtained seating for 50 people, multiple umbrellas, stained the deck, installed a new pull-chain shower head, installed shade sails and a privacy screen.
Also, through community efforts, we have obtained a half-dozen life vests to help little children float around and got the pool vacuum working to clean the bottom.
Click here for a detailed receipt list.
Throughout the season, the pool staff have heard very positive reactions to the project and it even got mentioned in an Inquirer article.
As the season comes to a close (the pool closes at the end of Sunday, August 18th), we look forward to providing an even better experience next summer. We are still accepting donations to provide even more seating, shade, and supplies for the pool in 2020.
I want to thank the following for helping to usher this project into existence:
- Jamila Abdur, Lauren Summers, Nicole Buchholz, Ben Bryant for your vision and paving the way to make this possible.
- PowerCorps PHL for your muscle and hard work in getting the deck cleaned and stained.
- Kingsessing Recreation Center staff and site supervisor Rob Jackson.
- Kathryn Ott Lovell and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation leadership.
- Kingsessing Roadrunners and Dontae Privette for your help in the fundraising efforts.
- And last but not least, our friends and neighbors who chipped in with your volunteer efforts and financially to make this all possible.
