Phila. has plan to keep 30 pools open

In a public-private city budget rescue effort, the Nutter administration yesterday announced a plan to have 30 city pools open this summer by raising $1.2 million from individuals, community organizations and businesses.

Flanked by business and community leaders at a City Hall news conference, Mayor Nutter said the program - the Splash and Summer Fund - was a three-year fund-raising effort to increase the number of pools kept open.

The city operates 73 outdoor pools, with 63 scheduled to be closed this summer because of citywide budget cuts. Meeting the funding goal would allow the city to open 20 pools in addition to the 10 that already were slated to be kept open.

Under the plan, three pools would remain open in each of the city's 10 councilmanic districts. Nutter said recreation officials would consult with City Council members to determine which pools stayed open.

"If we raise $600,000 . . . 30 pools would be able to open for three days a week. If we raise $1.2 million . . . we can keep 30 pools open for six days a week," Nutter told reporters.

Donation levels begin at a minimum of $10. Those interested in helping may go to

» READ MORE: www.phillysummerfund.org

to donate, or call 215-665-2542.

Nutter said the extended goal is to raise $3.6 million by March 6, 2011, which would allow at least 30 city pools to remain open six days a week through the summer of 2011.

So far, close to $170,000 has been donated from TD Bank, Tasty Baking Co., Caplin Family Charities, United Concordia and AmeriChoice.

The program is the third public-private effort announced by the Nutter administration since he began trimming the budget to accommodate a $180 million deficit.

In November, Nutter and Ed Snider, chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, said the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation would take over operation and programming at three rinks that officials said were targeted for possible closing.

In December, Nutter announced that five of the city's 11 library branches that had scheduled to close permanently had been put on a track to be taken over by foundations, individuals, companies, and community development corporations.