Cold water greets swimmers on the opening day of area pools

Adrianna Romano, a student at Poe Middle School, dives into the Annandale Swim & Tennis Club pool.

It felt more like March than Memorial Day weekend on the opening day for community swimming pools May 25, but that didn’t stop a few brave souls from taking the plunge.

Despite a dearth of actual swimmers, local pools had plenty of new features to show prospective members. Holmes Run Pool (3451 Gallows Road, Falls Church), for example, has new white coating and new landscaping, says board member Beth Olson. The pool is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a party June 1 that will also recognize pool members turning 60 this year.

These kids at Holmes Run Pool aren’t ready to swim.

Annandale Swim and Tennis Club (7530 Little River Turnpike, Annandale) has a new snack bar, along with parking lot and lighting improvements and is looking forward to hosting the Northern Virginia Swim League All-Stars Meet in August, reports AS&T President Matt McDonald.

Umi Hermann, a student at Annandale Terrace Elementary School, in the AS&T pool.

Since AS&T isn’t in a residential community, the pool reaches out to the whole Annandale area, particularly neighborhoods like Ravensworth-Bristow and the Hummer Road area that don’t have pools. AS&T sent a mass mailing to 4,300 households touting Annandale’s “hidden oasis” and the pool’s diverse membership. AS&T also worked out an agreement with Southern Management Co. to let residents of the Parliaments use the pool this summer, as their pool is closed for renovations associated with a new community center.

Edsall Park Swim Club (5505 Montgomery St., Springfield) has new white coating, bathroom upgrades, and lots of other improvements, thanks to funding from a Fairfax County Neighborhood Enhancement Partnership Program (NEPP) grant and is undertaking an extensive membership marketing campaign. 

Taking the plunge into the Broyhill Crest pool.

The Broyhill Crest Recreation Club (7212 Early St., Annanadale) also received a NEPP grant, which was used to refurbish the bathroom/changing rooms, carve pathways through a wooded area, and install a fire pit. The pool has several new activities planned for this summer, including water yoga and a morning senior swim.

S’mores at the Broyhill Crest pool fire pit.