Since the 1920s, O’Connor Pool has been a refuge from the hot summer sun for people of all ages. Located on South St between S 26^th St and Taney St, it is considered part of the Schuylkill River Park. It is the only public pool in the immediate vicinity of Fitler Square and is also used frequently by residents of the Rittenhouse and Grays Ferry neighborhoods.

However, in recent years, some have questioned whether the pool is a good use of public land; O’Connor Pool is open for less than two months per year, and due to its age, requires frequent and expensive repairs. Even when the pool is open, its hours are limited; its scheduled hours are 1-7 on weekdays and 12-5 on weekends, but it often closes earlier than scheduled.  Additionally, the pool was closed entirely in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID pandemic and the general state of disrepair of the pool area.

At the time, a large section of the brick wall surrounding the pool had collapsed and needed to be fully rebuilt. In 2021, the Fitler Square Neighborhood Association (FSNA) released a statement to the City’s Parks & Recreation Department, which operates the pool, stating: “we would like to raise a concern about the delays in repairing the pool. The structural issues with the 100+-year-old pool have been known for at least three years, and the delays in repairing the walls prevented the community from having a much-needed outdoor communal space for activity and exercise during the summer of 2021.”

A representative from Parks & Rec could not be reached for comment.

In addition to the delays in necessary repairs from Parks & Rec, the pool’s limited availability is compounded by a shortage in staffing. This issue has affected nearly all public pools in Philadelphia, especially in the past few years. The lack of available lifeguards and other staff contributes heavily to O’Connor Pool’s inadequate operational schedule.

According to Benjamin Keys, president of FSNA, the pool is currently “at a crossroads.” Though Keys views the pool, and the park in general, as the “gem of the neighborhood,” he does not think it is currently receiving the attention and care it needs from Parks & Rec. Keys sees two paths forward: either O’Connor Pool should be fully renovated into a modern pool that requires less frequent maintenance, or the space should be used for something other than a pool.

Either one of these proposals would be expensive for the City but would be more cost-effective in the long term by eliminating the need to frequently and extensively repair the aging pool. FSNA has “looked into grant proposals for renovation,” but has not gotten very far, as the pool is “not a Parks & Rec priority.”

In October 2021, the Friends of Schuylkill River Park released a “Master Plan” for coming improvements to the park; it outlined a plan to add additional water features near the Markward Recreation Center, but said that “additional engagement with pool users and stakeholders to develop any improvement strategies is needed.”

In terms of alternative uses for the space, Keys had several suggestions: one possibility is to build a new community center, which would replace the current one at Markward. The current community center is also very old and prone to flooding; it endured significant flood damage during Hurricane Ida in 2021.

Another potential path is to sell the land to a private developer. The space could then be used for housing, which is in very limited supply in Fitler Square, or for retail space, or a combination of the two. This option would also provide funding to be used toward other park improvements. Whether the solution is public or private, Keys believes that the possibilities for the space are “practically endless.”

Regardless of which path is taken, it would be in the City’s best financial interest to make a decision sooner rather than later; otherwise, the repairs necessary to keep the pool open will only continue to become more frequent and more expensive. For the benefit of the Parks & Rec budget and the residents of Fitler Square, O’Connor Pool should be fully renovated or replaced as soon as feasibly possible.