Fenty opens D.C. pools

(Photo courtesy of DPR)

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty kicked off the city's summer pool season Friday by celebrating the reopening of the pool at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Northeast.

The pool had fallen into disrepair before closing more than a decade ago. But following a $180,000 renovation officials used it as the backdrop to celebrate the opening of the District's pools.

"Behind me is a pool that has not been open in a long time," Fenty said as a group of students splashed behind him.

John Tatum, who won the gold medal at the 2009 Senior Olympics in Palo Alto, Calif., said the pool provides service to both the young and the young at heart.

"This pool is very important to the senior citizens because they can swim the entire year because it is indoor," said Tatum, 91, and a member of the Golden Dolphins Swim Team. "We had a nice place to swim and then it was closed. I wish I could swim today but I didn't bring my trunks."

Two of Tatum's fellow Golden Dolphins, Barbara Stewart, 73, and Jean Davis, 83, did bring their swimwear.

"I love swimming. I do it three times a week," Stewart said. "Because this pool is open now I have a new place to come."

-- Hamil R. Harris