by Bill Malcolm, Friends of Broad Ripple Pool

Not only is the Broad Ripple Park Pool open this summer after a two year hiatus, it is free. The pool re-opened on June 18 after being closed the last two summers. The pool is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with a lunch break closure from 2pm to 3pm). The pool is free to Marion County residents. However, you must get a pool pass (known as an IndyParks Fun Card) which is available at the pool office. You will need to fill out a brief application and show proof that you are a county resident. While there are no swim teams or swim lessons this summer, it is apparently in the cards for next summer.

"Thank you IndyParks for opening our community pool," said Bill Malcolm of the Friends of Broad Ripple Pool. "Given how hot is has been this summer, the pool is again a great way for people from all over the City to cool off and take a swim," he continued. "We thank those employees at the pool including especially the lifeguards given that the lifeguard shortage is a national problem affecting pools around the country this summer," Malcolm continued. "We applaud IndyPark's decision to encourage anyone interested (including seniors) to apply for the position," he concluded. Friends of Broad Ripple Park will be putting flowers in containers around the pool deck as they have in years past. They also helped with deck clean up this year.

Note the Friends of Broad Ripple Pool formed 4 years ago when there were apparently plans to permanently close the Broad Ripple Park pool. Over 525 signatures in a petition to keep it open were delivered to the Mayor asking it be kept open. The pool did not open in 2020 due to Covid and in 2021 due to a lifeguard shortage. However, it got a new pool pump in 2019 and a new liner last summer. There has been a pool in Broad Ripple Park for 100 years (and the predecessor to the current pool was Olympic sized). For more information, see the website of Friends of Broad Ripple Park, the Friends of Broad Ripple Pool on Facebook, or visit the pool section of the IndyParks website (www.Indy.Gov/parks).