The Importance of Community Pools for Health and Safety

By Rick Rutter

March 18, 2025

Access to community pools is not just about recreation—it is a critical factor in drowning prevention, promoting public health, and fostering a culture of water safety. With drowning remaining a leading cause of unintentional death, especially among children, but also amongst a vast number of adults who never learned to swim, the availability of public pools for learn-to-swim programs and competitive swimming is more than a luxury; it is a necessity. Based on the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1-4, and over half of U.S. adults have never taken a swim lesson. Beyond safety, swimming provides a wealth of health benefits, making community pools essential for overall well-being.

Drowning Prevention Starts with Learn-to-Swim Programs

One of the most effective ways to prevent drowning is to ensure that every child has access to structured, high-quality swimming lessons. Community pools provide a controlled and supervised environment where trained instructors can teach essential water safety skills. A dedicated learn-to-swim pool, ideally with warm water, creates the perfect setting for young children and beginners to foster a positive early experience, gain confidence in the water, and encourage learning.

NIH Research shows that participation in formal swimming lessons was associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning in the 1- to 4-year-old children. However, many families lack access to affordable swim instruction, making community pool facilities crucial in bridging this gap. By offering low-cost or subsidized swim lessons, municipalities and organizations can ensure that swimming is an accessible life-saving skill rather than a privilege.

Ideal Conditions for Younger and Older Populations

For beginners, particularly young children, the American Red Cross recommends a shallow learn-to-swim pool with warmer water (around 90°F) is ideal. Water at this temperature helps relax the muscles, prevents shivering, and allows for longer, more effective lessons. Many drowning incidents occur because children and adults panic in water, so creating a comfortable and consistent learning environment helps individuals build skills gradually without fear.

These conditions are also particularly beneficial for older adults. Warmer water temperatures help alleviate joint pain, making swimming and other aquatic activities more enjoyable and accessible for individuals with arthritis or chronic pain conditions.

Competitive Swimming: Inspiring Skills Beyond the Basics

While learning to swim is crucial for safety, keeping individuals engaged in swimming long-term is equally important. Competitive swimming programs hosted in community pools serve as a vital bridge between basic water safety and lifelong aquatic participation and are relatively low cost for participants and scholarships are sometimes available. Fifty-meter and deep water pools allow for advanced training opportunities and foster a culture of excellence, where young swimmers can develop endurance, technique, and confidence in the water.

Participation in swim teams encourages discipline, goal-setting, and physical fitness while reinforcing essential survival skills. Competitive swimmers become role models in their communities, inspiring younger children to learn to swim and then continue their swim education. Moreover, swim meets and training sessions cultivate a sense of community, drawing families together and emphasizing the importance of aquatic sports.

Health Benefits of Swimming

Swimming is one of the best full-body exercises available, offering numerous health benefits for individuals of all ages. Unlike high-impact activities such as running or weightlifting, swimming is low-impact, making it an ideal exercise for people with joint pain, arthritis, or mobility issues. For example, the Mayo Clinic recommends aquatic exercise because it is low-impact and water offers natural resistance while still providing resistance for muscle strengthening and cardiovascular improvement.

Regular swimming improves heart health, lowers blood pressure, and enhances lung capacity. It is also an effective workout for weight management, burning a significant number of calories while remaining gentle on the body. Additionally, swimming helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, making it a valuable activity for mental health.

For older adults, swimming is an excellent way to maintain mobility and independence. Water aerobics and gentle swimming exercises can help improve balance, coordination, and flexibility, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. By ensuring access to community pools, we provide opportunities for individuals to maintain their health and well-being throughout their lives.

Expanding Fitness Options Beyond Swimming

Beyond traditional swimming, community pools offer a range of fitness programs designed to cater to diverse needs and abilities. Water aerobics classes provide a fun and engaging way to stay active, combining cardiovascular exercise with strength training in a low-impact setting. Physical rehabilitation programs in the water help individuals recover from injuries and surgeries by utilizing water’s natural resistance and buoyancy to rebuild strength without excessive strain.

Water yoga, another growing fitness trend, combines the benefits of yoga with the supportive nature of water, improving flexibility, balance, and relaxation. These alternative fitness options ensure that community pools remain inclusive spaces that cater to a broad audience, from athletes in training to seniors seeking gentle yet effective exercise routines.

A Multi-Pool Approach to Community Safety and Engagement

A well-designed swim center featuring a dedicated learn-to-swim pool, deep-water, and full-size competition pool offers countless benefits to the community. It ensures that individuals of all ages and skill levels have appropriate spaces to practice, progress, and thrive. Deep-water pools provide opportunities for lifeguard training, diving, and water rescue simulations, further reinforcing community safety.

By investing in community pool access, cities and organizations are investing in public safety, health, and lifelong engagement with aquatic activities. Preventing drowning begins with education, but inspiring long-term participation ensures that water safety remains a generational priority. The more people have access to well-maintained, purpose-driven pools, the safer and stronger our communities will be.

Conclusion

Community pools serve as essential lifelines for both safety and health. They provide the foundation for drowning prevention through structured swimming lessons, inspire young athletes through competitive programs, and offer a wealth of health benefits that support physical and mental well-being. With the addition of facilities catering to younger and older populations with a diverse range of fitness programs, community pools become even more valuable. Investing in public pool access is an investment in the overall health and safety of the community, ensuring that every individual—regardless of age or background—has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in the water. As cities and organizations continue to develop recreational facilities, prioritizing pools will lead to stronger, healthier, and safer communities for generations to come.