Alexandria (Del Ray) and pools

[Anonymous]

I want to buy in Del Ray but one of the things holding me back is the lack of community pools similar to what you get further out in fairfax and places like that. I don’t want to join an outrageously priced country club or drive 40 minutes south just to get to a community pool. I want something we can belong to so not interested in city pools. Is there something I am missing? What people do around here closer in to DC? My kids love to swim so much so this, as silly as it seems, is a big drawback for us. Please give me some ideas!

[Anonymous]

For most new homebuyers in the area, country clubs are the only option for easy, on-demand pool accessibility within a few miles of DC. Most of the community pools within five miles of DC have multi-year (or longer) waiting lists, and public pools are not a viable option for families who swim.

As you’ve found, one has to venture farther out to Fairfax for easy, on-demand pool access in NOVA, and, even then, you might have to sit on a waitlist for a year or two before you can secure full, anytime access. There are some health clubs with pools (around $300/mo) to increase pool access while you sit on a community waiting list, but those obviously don’t offer swim leagues and community-oriented swim activities.

[Anonymous]

OP here - what are the closest pools that have a waiting list? The pools I found all seemed to be closer to Mount Vernon. And that is a haul. I’m fine with waiting it out if there are closer options. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Searching google maps for “swim association” and “swim club” returns results for those I’m aware of.

[Anonymous]

We belonged to Little Hunting pool back when. Do idea if there’s a waitlist these days.

[Anonymous]

OP: So I guess the answer is I am out of luck unless I want to fight old town traffic down past Belle Haven. Bummer. This seems like a missed business opportunity for someone. It would be very successful.

[Anonymous]

We live in Del ray and just use the Warwick (public) pool. Run into friends every time.

For a minute we looked at joining army navy country club as well which others do for this.

And then I have a third group of friends that do make the trek down south of the beltway to membership type pools.

[Anonymous]

I live in north ridge/Beverly hills are and many people belong to or join parklawn or dowden terrace. Both have lengthy waitlists and are less than 15 minute drives. Broyhill crest has no waitlist and is 15-20. My family does the nova water parks annual pass instead (my kids aren’t interested in swim team so ymmv) and it gives you access to great waves in Alexandria (10 minutes away) and ocean dunes in Arlington (10-15 minutes away).

[Anonymous]

Old Town public pool. I think the closest swim club to Del Ray is Little Hunting Park which has a lot of Del Ray/OT/Rosemont members. There is also Hollin Hall. Would take you about 15 min to drive to either one I think.

Look them up online and contact the pools yourself to see if there is a waitlist. In the past you could skip the line by buying someone’s membership directly from them.

[Anonymous]

What about the closes rec center?

[Anonymous]

Put your own in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to buy in Del Ray but one of the things holding me back is the lack of community pools similar to what you get further out in fairfax and places like that. I don’t want to join an outrageously priced country club or drive 40 minutes south just to get to a community pool. I want something we can belong to so not interested in city pools. Is there something I am missing? What people do around here closer in to DC? My kids love to swim so much so this, as silly as it seems, is a big drawback for us. Please give me some ideas!

Yeah, there aren't any suburban-style private pool clubs in or near Del Ray. Warwick pool is newly renovated and really nice though! And the kids I know who do the city swim team (the Wahoos) really like it. I think practices are at old town pool in the summer and Chinquapin in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Little Hunting is a crap facility and full of mean girls, drama gossip mill.

Truly surreal place. I have zero idea why people pay to go there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put your own in.

Not really the same thing. People go to pool clubs for the social aspects as much as the swimming.

[Anonymous]

I just looked up Hollin Hills pool, which is probably the closest pool to Del Ray and they have a two season waitlist for non-Hollin Hills residence.

I feel you OP. I grew up with a pool in the neighborhood and have amazing memories or walking to the pool and meeting friends for summer. It was a safe place to go be a tween/teen without parental supervision. We lived at the pool.

I wanted the same for my kids. So we actually looked into neighborhoods with walkable pools for our kids. A lot of pools now have long waitlists that are closer in but many give preference if you are in the neighborhood.