Making a Difference

The Dormont Pool dates back to 1920, when Andrew Philp used rocks to dam a creek to make a wading pool. In 1922, the borough spent $6,851 to create a larger dam for a swimming area and an ice skating rink. At the same time they also built a small wooden bath house. The pool was made to give people the feeling of being in the tropics.
 

In 1923, Dormont Borough decided to turn it into a concrete pool with fine sand along the edges of the pool making it resemble a beach. This project took several years and had a budget of $14,867. On July 4, 1929, the pool and the new bathhouse were dedicated.
 

The three-floor bathhouse serves several purposes. The lower level houses the pool's filtration system, the main floor is divided into two main areas for the men and women and the top floor is a community room which is rented to individuals and community groups. The pool itself is about 1.85 acres or 60,000 square feet.
 

Dormont Pool has survived the Great Depression, World War II, and has opened every season. It was declared a Historic Landmark in 2002.
 

Some minor changes have occurred over the years but the look and feel of Dormont Pool has remained. It is still one of the largest public pools in Pennsylvania and is enjoyed by residents of not only Dormont but surrounding communities and scores of people when they visit the area. It is one reason many people choose to live in this borough.
 

Several years of neglecting repairs and regular maintenance threatened the pool. In 2006 the Borough of Dormont announced the pool was not going to open.
 

We were able to prevent this planned closure with your help and the help of others. We saved the pool, however your financial support is still needed to keep this landmark pool a vibrant part of our community. 

Who we are:

     We began as a grassroots campaign to raise the necessary funds to help pay for short term repairs to open our community pool for the 2006 season. We then formed a nonprofit organization; Friends of Dormont Pool, Inc.
 

      Our organization was established to help generate long term funding to make the major repairs needed to this Historic Landmark pool, as well as needed upgrades.
 

      The pool was built in 1920 and has opened every summer since but due to years of neglect was in desperate need of work on both the pool and the bathhouse.
 

    It was scheduled to close in 2006 and its future was in jeopardy. That's when we stepped in.  

We will continue our fund raising efforts with the county, state, private foundations and our borough council to establish a potential long term maintenance fund and begin to discuss the funding of any future enhancements to the facility. We also continue to work with the borough and our local politicians to secure needed funding, however we will continue to need your support as well to insure the project is a success. You can personally support our cause by attending our fund raisers, joining our easy to get along with organization at any level and by helping to lobby our local and state officials.
 

      We greatly appreciate any help you may give us in saving this valuable community asset. We would appreciate your support in any number of ways which may include not only financial donations, but also assisting with events.
 

      But most importantly - come out and enjoy the pool!
 

      Please contact us if you have any questions or are interested in supporting Dormont Pool.
 

      Respectfully,
    Friends of Dormont Pool Board of Directors