Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park DC or MD?

Takoma Park is MD. Takoma is DC.

Connecticut Bel Air (MCSL) - no wait list.

We are in MCSL and were in same division as long branch last year. They hosted an A meet and it seems like a nice pool/swim team.

We’ve enjoyed Adelphi Pool. Easy from TKPK. Nice community. Great swim team experience. I know there were some spots available for August only but may be spots for annual 2024.

Takoma Park DC or MD?

Anonymous wrote:Looking for more social, see your neighbors and play at the pool vibes, with potential to maybe join a team in a few years. My kids are still pretty little — my oldest I guess is old enough for competitive swim but is more of a splash around if your friends are and then pretend to be water pokemon sort of a guy.

Get on the waiting list at West Hillandale. You’ll likely get offered a place before next summer.

Looking for more social, see your neighbors and play at the pool vibes, with potential to maybe join a team in a few years. My kids are still pretty little — my oldest I guess is old enough for competitive swim but is more of a splash around if your friends are and then pretend to be water pokemon sort of a guy.

Yes OP - are you looking for summer (for next year) or year round (which at this point, almost every local team has had tryouts and placements)

Are you mostly asking about competitive swim? Because I know kids that swim on teams at the YMCA in Silver Spring and some teams that practice at the aquatic center in Takoma DC. If that’s what you are after vs recreational summer swim - the posts above aren’t really answering your question.

Better is a very loaded word. It all depends what you want. Our kids are on the long branch swim team and we thoroughly enjoy the team. It works a little differently than a private pool in that there's no "board" in charge of both the team and the pool. But yes, as far as the "pool atmosphere" goes, it is a little less neighborhood-y than some other pools - west hillandale, hillandale etc as there's no playground or volleyball court, etc. If you're looking for more of the "social" atmosphere, then Long Branch might not be the top in that particular attribute, but we also often run into families from swim team there as well.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, thanks! Very helpful!!! See you at Long Branch in the short term it seems

Are the private pools much better than long branch?

As far as how competitive they are, Long Branch is doing pretty well. Several of the other private pools nearby are in lower divisions. But Long Branch doesn’t have a membership and as a county pool it doesn’t have events, nor can you grill or drink alcohol there. Private pools might be more social? I know families in the swim team at Long Branch though who are very happy. Of the other pools mentioned that might have short waitlists I’m familiar with West Hillandale and Hillandale. West Hillandale has a larger, shadier facility with a nice large shallow end, but run down changing facilities. Nice vibe. Hillandale is smaller with less shade. Long Branch has a slide and is closest to TKPK.

Wow, thanks! Very helpful!!! See you at Long Branch in the short term it seems

Are the private pools much better than long branch?

If your kids want to join MCSL, Long Branch (county pool) has no waitlist. You can all swim there as a Montgomery county resident paying the walk up price. Additionally if you’re in one of four zip codes (20910,20901 and two others I forget) you can get in free there for the rest of the summer.

Hey there. Welcome to the neighborhood. You have a couple options, some are good, some are convenient...but few are both.

Depending on your location in town you could consider the following for private pools:

1) PG Pool (10 year waitlist)
2) Daleview (4-5 year waitlist)
3) Hillandale/West Hillandale/Adelphi (could be hit or miss on waiting for these. I've heard some friends get in quickly others wait a year or so)

For public pools you can swim at Long Branch for the rest of the summer outside. Piney Branch elementary has an indoor pool but they've had a ton of maintenance and staffing issues. We were getting quite a few emails telling us it was closed for this reason or that.

Good luck.

What pools and swim leagues to people use in Takoma Park? We just moved here and our friends suggested we look into our local team in Montgomery County Swim League, but I’m not seeing one for TKPK.