Roosevelt pool entry construction continues, opening date TBD
/Construction on the new entrance to the pool continues.
by Cesse Ip
Construction is almost complete at the new pool entrance at Roosevelt High School.
Petworth News reached out to DCPS who confirmed that work on the entrance is scheduled to be completed by the end of May.
However, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Parks of Recreation, they currently have no plans to open to the public. “We will consult with DCPS to make a decision on opening the site to the general public and hours. Our current focus is on staffing and operating our outdoor pools for spring/summer.”
Roosevelt pool (courtesy DCPS / Twitter)
The pool at Roosevelt was originally designed only for student use, and did not have an external entrance. The only way to get into the pool area was through the school building. Residents began to ask for access to the indoor pool in 2019, and after hearings with the Committee on Facilities and Procurement, the city decided to move forward with constructing a separate entrance on Upshur Street that would allow residents to enter the school building, while keeping the rest of the building secure.
According to earlier reports, pool usage will be limited to students only during the school day, and public operation hours have yet to be determined by DPR.
While this will be the closest indoor pool for the Petworth area, due to Covid safety restrictions and staffing at existing DPR pool, it might be some time before residents get access.
Rendering of the entrance once it’s complete (courtesy DPR)
