Roosevelt High School at the corner of 13th and Upshur Streets NW

by Cesse Ip

Ever since the renovated Roosevelt High School reopened in 2016, the community has expressed their hope to use the new school’s indoor pool. DCPS wasn’t opposed to the idea, but to make it work would require constructing a new entrance to the building and involving DGS and DPR.

Now, five years later, the pool at Roosevelt High School is on track to open to the general public in Spring 2021 (if conditions allow), according to DCPS.

Calls for the pool be opened to the public hit a high note in 2019 by former ANC 4C05 Commissioner Debbie Matties. In April 2019, she testified in front of the Committee on Facilities and Procurement in a budget oversight hearing about the benefits of having the pool open to the community. While there were inevitable delays, by the end of 2020, construction commenced on a new separate entrance to the pool.

*Roosevelt pool (courtesy DCPS / Twitter)*

Pool usage will be limited to students only during the school day, and public operation hours have yet to be determined by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The entrance to the pool will be on Upshur Street, just west of the field behind the high school. When the pool is safely allowed to open to the public, it will be a great addition to the neighborhood!