Philly Pools Are Open, Even if Mayor Kenney Won’t Swim

Kenney: "I don't think anyone wants to see me with a bathing suit on."

Philly’s swimming pool season officially kicked off yesterday, but Mayor Jim Kenney didn’t quite jump in on the fun.

Not literally, at least.

The mayor officiated the Max Myers Recreation Center pool opening in the afternoon, but he declined to participate in what’s become something of a Philly mayoral tradition: jumping in the water for the first dip of the summer.

Former mayors Michael Nutter and Ed Rendell have both been photographed in the Philly pools, fully participating in the start of swimming seasons’ past.

But Mayor Kenney wore a business suit instead of a bathing suit yesterday.

“The schedule is really hectic today, and I have three things after it,” Kenney said to a NewsWorks reporter. “And for me to get dressed, undressed, jump in a pool, get dressed again … we’re just running from one spot to another.

“And I don’t think anyone wants to see me with a bathing suit on,” he added to the reporter.

Philadelphia has more public pools per capita than any other city in the country. Last year, a “pop-up” project at the Francisville Pool, the result of a $300,000 grant from the Knight Foundation, garnered a fair share of attention.

Here’s Dan McQuade‘s handy “guide” to attending Philly’s public pools, and a list of their opening dates:

http://philaparkandrec.tumblr.com/post/145673743749/philly-public-pool-opening-dates

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