Old Town Pool temporarily closed for ‘critical’ repairs amid heat wave

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) — As scorching temperatures continue to bake the D.C. area, one of Alexandria’s staple community pools will not be open as a refuge from the heat.

Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) announced Monday that the Old Town Pool would be closed from June 24-26 as crews work to fix ongoing filtration issues affecting the main pool’s water quality.

“Please be patient with us as we strive to ensure these technical issues get resolved indefinitely,” the department said in the announcement.

Old Town Pool, initially constructed in 1975, has served as a popular spot for residents to beat the heat for nearly 50 years. Crews regularly perform maintenance and repairs at the pool to ensure its safety; however, its aging infrastructure continues to present challenges in keeping it open consistently, according to RPCA.

As a result, officials said the three-day closure will allow for “critical repairs aimed at stabilizing pool operations” for the rest of the summer. Construction to fully rehabilitate the pool is scheduled for fiscal year 2027, and the project is currently in its design phase.

“RPCA is working diligently to rehabilitate and revive Old Town Pool. It has been a staple in the community for decades, and we want to ensure it remains a part of the fabric of our growing city,” said RPCA director Hashim Taylor.

With the pool’s temporary closure and as temperatures continue to climb across the area, officials are encouraging people to swim at one of the city’s four other public pools: Warwick, Memorial, Chinquapin or Minnie Howard Aquatics facilities.

Warwick is having a special opening on Tuesday, and Chinquapin Aquatics will have extended hours to help provide people with relief from the heat.

In addition, Alexandria residents can visit the Durant Center at 1605 Cameron St. between 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. through Thursday to pick up a complimentary day pass to Great Waves Waterpark. Passes will be given on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited, RPCA noted.

For more information on how to get to a pool from where you are by DASH bus, click here. For using Capital Bikeshare, click here.