Wilson pool inches toward reopening after year-plus closure

After several false starts, repairs at the Wilson pool in Tenleytown appear close to completion.

Why it matters: It is one of D.C.'s largest indoor pools — empty lap lanes were scarce — but HVAC problems led it to stay closed for much of the past 16 months.

State of play: There is no exact reopening date. But D.C. was refilling and testing the pool last week after discovering a leak in June.

• Crews need to "chlorinate, run the filtration system, and then test the water," Ward 3 council member Matt Frumin told residents in an announcement last Friday. "Only then can they move to reopen."

"Absent any new surprises, we are getting close," Frumin added.

• Until Wilson reopens, the nearby Hearst pool (outdoors) is opening early at 6am and closing late at 8pm on weekdays, the Department of Parks and Recreation said.

Flashback: DC Health shut down the pool in February 2023 due to poor maintenance, defects, and improper temperatures.

• It briefly reopened in June 2023, before closing again for extensive work on its HVAC system.

Fun fact: Officially known as the Wilson Aquatic Center, the Olympic-size pool opened in 2009 during a public recreation building spree by the triathlete Mayor Adrian Fenty.

• A fierce debate ensued: Should the length of the lap lanes cater to average poolgoers, or to competitive swimmers?
• The latter wanted 50-meter lanes. The other side were 25-yarders.

The bottom line: Frumin tells Axios he wouldn't be surprised if the city announces a reopening timeline next week.

• "The saga may not end," but he's confident in the "good-faith" efforts to fix it. "My constituents are frustrated for sure."