Philadelphia Opens First Pool With A Splash
By: Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia Parks and Recreation opened its first pool Thursday - just in time for the first day of summer and the last day of school.
The summer season kicked off at Vogt Recreation Center on Cottage Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
Over the course of the next 10 days, Parks and Recreation will open all of the city's remaining 69 pools.
VIEW: Complete Pool Opening Schedule
"There's no reason for any kid in Philadelphia to say 'I don't have anything to do'," says Susan Slawson, First Deputy Commissioner, Recreation and Programs. She says a bump in the Parks and Recreation budget means the city can employ about 800 young people as lifeguards, pool maintenance assistants and more while providing all sorts of safe, fun activities.
"Whether it's playing basketball, playing baseball, our summer camps," she says, "we have enough funding to have everything we need for our pools."
Mom Sandra is happy the pool is open.
"It's so important because it's safe," says mom. "In the streets there's too many cars, so it's really good to have something like this."
For more information, go to: www.facebook.com/pages/Fun-Safe-Philly-Summer
