Dormont Swimming Pool

By Jim.henderson - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Website:

https://boro.dormont.pa.us/dormont-pool/

Location:

1801 Dormont Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Description:

Dormont Pool is one of the state’s largest and most historically significant public swimming facilities, with origins dating back to 1920 when Andrew Philp dammed a creek to create a wading pool. By 1922, the borough invested $6,851 to expand the dam, creating a swimming area and ice-skating rink, alongside a small wooden bathhouse. Between 1923 and 1929, the pool was transformed into a concrete pool with fine sand along the edges to resemble a tropical beach, culminating in the dedication of the fully completed pool and new bathhouse on July 4, 1929, with a total budget of $14,867.

The three-story bathhouse is both functional and civic in design: the lower level houses the filtration system, the main floor separates men’s and women’s changing areas, and the top floor contains a community room available for rental by residents and organizations. The pool itself spans roughly 1.85 acres (60,000 square feet), making it a prominent landmark in the borough. Surviving the Great Depression, World War II, and decades of municipal change, Dormont Pool was designated a Historic Landmark in 2002. Minor alterations over the years have preserved its original look and tropical-inspired character, maintaining its status as a social and recreational centerpiece for Dormont residents and visitors alike.

Community support has been essential to keeping the pool operational, especially after maintenance challenges threatened closure in 2006, ensuring its continued role as a vibrant civic asset and a reason many families choose to live in the borough.