Tell me about Arlington Pools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny to me that people move here and are surprised there’s no outside pools. Welcome to the south, dear! Most of these pools were started in the 50s...

There's the Upton Hill pool. That's where we generally went since we didn't have a pool that was a natural choice to get on the waitlist. People told us to see where our kids friends ended up using the pool. Turned out they either went to Ft Myer, which we can't join, or the country clubs, which we couldn't afford. But, probably because we were never a pool-every-day kind of family, my kids didn't care that much about going to the pool and were fine with Upton Hill or W-L or being invited to a friend's pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny to me that people move here and are surprised there’s no outside pools. Welcome to the south, dear! Most of these pools were started in the 50s...

What does that mean?

I always assumed that the limited number of pools was because of density and high property costs. It's just too $$ to open more pools to keep up with the increasing population.

Is there some underlying racial reason?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny to me that people move here and are surprised there’s no outside pools. Welcome to the south, dear! Most of these pools were started in the 50s...

What does that mean?

I always assumed that the limited number of pools was because of density and high property costs. It's just too $$ to open more pools to keep up with the increasing population.

Is there some underlying racial reason?

The prevalence of private pool clubs in the South was to keep out Black people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny to me that people move here and are surprised there’s no outside pools. Welcome to the south, dear! Most of these pools were started in the 50s...

What does that mean?

I always assumed that the limited number of pools was because of density and high property costs. It's just too $$ to open more pools to keep up with the increasing population.

Is there some underlying racial reason?

Yes.

General info (mentions Glen Echo in MD and DC): https://theconversation.com/the-forgotten-history-of-segregated-swimming-pools-and-amusement-parks-119586

Alexandria: https://www.alexandriava.gov/recreation/info/default.aspx?id=27538

Is there some reason to think that Arlington, former home to the American nazi party headquarters, was different?

Also there was a letter last year to the VA governor that was requesting including pools in phase 1 of repopening that mentioned that many of the pools in norther VA were founded in the 50s.

[Anonymous]

I have heard that Dominion Hills and Overlee get so crowded in the summer that you sometimes there is a line to get in, almost like Upton Hills -- but Donaldson Run limits it membership so much that it is never crowded?

Is there truth to this? We are thinking of getting on their waitlist but don't want to was application fee for something that is no better than local pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that Dominion Hills and Overlee get so crowded in the summer that you sometimes there is a line to get in, almost like Upton Hills -- but Donaldson Run limits it membership so much that it is never crowded?

Is there truth to this? We are thinking of getting on their waitlist but don't want to was application fee for something that is no better than local pool.

In 16 years I’ve never seen a line to get into Dominion Hills. Yes, holiday weekends can get crowded but it’s generally not too bad. August is downright empty.

[Anonymous]

I got on the Overlee list when I was pregnant with my 1st grader. I think we still have 2-3 years to go.

We got into DH after 3 years of waiting and 2 partial summer rentals. I’ve heard it’s longer now. Most of the people that the pool are from nearby neighborhoods - DH, Madison Manor, Boulevard Manor.

There are no tennis courts. Overlee seems nicer, but since I can walk to DH for morning lap swim, we won’t switch unless we move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people deal with 5-10 year waiting lists for pools? Are your kids in grade school before they get to swim on a regular basis?

I joined a waitlist while I was pregnant. However, I think a lot of people buy memberships at pools in mclean or falls church until they get into the one they want. I know highlands has a summer only option and a lot of people join Kent Gardens because it is relatively cheap. Also not all the lists are that long. Chesterbrook I believe has like a 1-2 year wait likely because they’re a little bit pricier.

I also joined waitlists when pregnant on the advice of a coworker. Whenever I hear about people thinking of moving to Arlington from DC, I tell then to get on the lists ASAP even if they don’t know if they’ll have kids or want a pool.

[Anonymous]

How do guests pass work at Donaldson Run in normal times? I can’t find on website and don’t want to bother their volunteers when DCUM hive mind knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that Dominion Hills and Overlee get so crowded in the summer that you sometimes there is a line to get in, almost like Upton Hills -- but Donaldson Run limits it membership so much that it is never crowded?

Is there truth to this? We are thinking of getting on their waitlist but don't want to was application fee for something that is no better than local pool.

There is never a line to get into Overlee. We have been members there for seven years, and have never had to wait behind more than one family at the check-in desk, which takes about ten second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that Dominion Hills and Overlee get so crowded in the summer that you sometimes there is a line to get in, almost like Upton Hills -- but Donaldson Run limits it membership so much that it is never crowded?

Is there truth to this? We are thinking of getting on their waitlist but don't want to was application fee for something that is no better than local pool.

The only time there’s a line at overlee is when it is just opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that Dominion Hills and Overlee get so crowded in the summer that you sometimes there is a line to get in, almost like Upton Hills -- but Donaldson Run limits it membership so much that it is never crowded?

Is there truth to this? We are thinking of getting on their waitlist but don't want to was application fee for something that is no better than local pool.

In 16 years I’ve never seen a line to get into Dominion Hills. Yes, holiday weekends can get crowded but it’s generally not too bad. August is downright empty.

+1. At DH the line might be for check-in at the desk, but never a line as in you have to wait for others to leave before entering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny to me that people move here and are surprised there’s no outside pools. Welcome to the south, dear! Most of these pools were started in the 50s...

What does that mean?

I always assumed that the limited number of pools was because of density and high property costs. It's just too $$ to open more pools to keep up with the increasing population.

Is there some underlying racial reason?

The prevalence of private pool clubs in the South was to keep out Black people.

I think the other reason it's a surprise is because in many other parts of the country, including even further out into the suburbs here, each subdivision has its own pool and you are eligible to join simply by living in that neighborhood. Arlington does not have neighborhood pools, because of the history of segregation sadly, but that definitely can be a surprise for those moving here especially because the names of many of the pools reflect names of the nearby neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that Dominion Hills and Overlee get so crowded in the summer that you sometimes there is a line to get in, almost like Upton Hills -- but Donaldson Run limits it membership so much that it is never crowded?

Is there truth to this? We are thinking of getting on their waitlist but don't want to was application fee for something that is no better than local pool.

No! They are not like Upton Hill at all! We avoid UH at all costs! You lose your kid in a second and it smells awful. DH and Overlee limit their membership just like DR, AFC, etc. That's why there's waiting lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny to me that people move here and are surprised there’s no outside pools. Welcome to the south, dear! Most of these pools were started in the 50s...

What does that mean?

I always assumed that the limited number of pools was because of density and high property costs. It's just too $$ to open more pools to keep up with the increasing population.

Is there some underlying racial reason?

The prevalence of private pool clubs in the South was to keep out Black people.

I think the other reason it's a surprise is because in many other parts of the country, including even further out into the suburbs here, each subdivision has its own pool and you are eligible to join simply by living in that neighborhood. Arlington does not have neighborhood pools, because of the history of segregation sadly, but that definitely can be a surprise for those moving here especially because the names of many of the pools reflect names of the nearby neighborhoods.

I grew up in Atlanta and almost every neighborhood had a pool and there was a prevalence of public pools as well. Only the really rich belonged to country clubs - it was not the norm even in the "middle class" areas.