As many in Massachusetts look for ways to beat the heat, more than half of Boston’s pools are closed for renovations and repairs.
Community activists are asking the city to invest in repairing the pools so they can provide relief during heat waves.
“The heart of the community center is the pool, and when the pool collapses, the center loses participants,” said activist Domingos DaRosa.
DaRosa used to be a pool lifeguard at the Holland Community Center in Dorchester. It is one of 10 city-operated pools that are currently closed.
“Most pools are closed in Black and Latino neighborhoods. In Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park, none of our pools can be used because they are in disrepair,” DaRosa said.
A city spokesperson confirmed the closures. Some are closed due to Boston Public Schools construction projects. Other pools are closed due to repairs being needed.
The city is working on renovating some of the pools. City officials just reopened the newly renovated Paris Street Community Pool in East Boston earlier this month.
At a day camp in Dorchester, staff have set up inflatable pools as the nearest community pool is closed. Organizers said they arrived at 5:00 a.m. to set it up and make sure the kids still had a way to cool off.
“You have to make your own pool, take out the tarp, call a friend and try to cool off,” said one counselor.
Here you can see the list of cooling centers.
