Major investments in the city’s pools are paying off, but it might not be in time for summer

A third of Boston's pools are closed for the summer as many undergo significant repairs and renovations.

With heat waves already hitting the city this summer, many might wonder where they can cool off.

One-third of Boston’s public pools will remain closed this summer as they undergo significant repairs and renovations.

“I think, like many of our public facilities, we have not done a great job of maintaining them,” said Marta E. Rivera, commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families.

“We get tired facilities that are not well maintained,” she added. “And we have to own that.”

BYCF is balancing which facilities must be closed to make those necessary repairs.

Rivera pointed to the Clougherty Pool in Charlestown, which will open this month with temporary facilities. It is halfway through a two-year renovation. She said the seasonal pool was closed two years ago when it was rendered unsafe, a decision that wasn’t popular but needed to happen.

But Clougherty Pool was only one example of neglect. Many others, such as the Draper Pool in West Roxbury, have undergone extensive repairs only to find that the pool still has leaks, causing renovations to continue longer than expected.

However, Rivera said BYCF has more free pools open this summer than in the past two or three years.

Mildred Avenue in Mattapan, Perkins in Dorchester, and Clougherty outdoor pool opening soon will bring the total number to 12 out of 18 this summer. Three more will reopen in September.

The mayor approved a capital plan of $34.3 million for FY24 to FY28 to repair and benefit the city’s pools.

“That is the largest investment in recent history and probably in the history of Boston,” said Rivera. “And that is the kind of investment we need.”

BCYF had $1 million to $2 million in its capital budget for repairs and renovations, but Rivera pointed out that pools are expensive and require constant maintenance and replacement of parts.

She said the department needed several million a year to maintain and restore the pools to working condition.

The city has also invested more funding in providing free swim lessons and lifesaving skills as part of the Swim Safe Program.

“It’s so critical for our young people to access pools and lakes and ponds, especially as a waterfront city,” Rivera said.

Pools are staffed and ready to go

Rivera pointed out that BCYF operates pools year-round. Under the BCYF department, there are 18 pools and one beach. Only three of those are seasonal, the one beach and two pools.

And staffing them has remained strong, even throughout the busy summer season.

So far, BCYF has filled all 16 seasonal positions and half of the part-time year-round pool lifeguard positions.

BYCF has ensured a robust pipeline of lifeguards to fill those positions through the Lifeguard Institute.

For many of their lifeguards, it is a career, not just a summer job. BCYF is working with the administration to ensure lifeguard salaries are competitive and have built-in bonuses.

“It’s a years-long process of investing in our staffing pipeline and our facilities,” Rivera said.

What’s open this summer?

Open: Charlestown, Curtis Hall in Jamaica Plain, Flaherty in Roslindale, Marshall in Dorchester, Mason in Roxbury, Mattahunt in Mattapan, Paris St. Pool in East Boston, and the recently opened outdoor pool Mirabella in the North End.

Closed this summer: Condon in South Boston, Quincy in Chinatown, and Leahy-Holloran in Dorchester. The pools will reopen to the public this September after Boston Public Schools finish work in the buildings.

Opening ‘hopefully’ soon: Mildred Avenue in Mattapan, Perkins in Dorchester, Clougherty outdoor pool in Charlestown (July), and Draper Pool in West Roxbury (this fall).

Closed: Blackstone in the South End, Hennigan in Jamaica Plain, and Holland in Dorchester.

BCYF Curley in South Boston also has access to a beach for Boston residents only.