Sue Murray pool to open in North Side following community outcry

Following community campaigns and public criticism, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey announced Monday that one of the North Side’s pools will reopen this summer after it was initially left off the list of openings.

Sue Murray pool on Cedar Avenue will reopen starting on Wednesday. It will initially be open Mondays through Thursdays starting, and then the pool will be also be open on Saturdays starting on July 9.

Gainey told North Side residents earlier in June that he would open the Sue Murray pool following an organized campaign from Northsiders, who were worried neighborhood children wouldn’t have access to any public pool this year.

When the city announced 11 pools would reopen, Sue Murray was left off the list due to lifeguard shortages and reports of crime near Sue Murray pool last season. Other pools on the North Side did reopen, like Jack Stack and Riverview, but those are both located more than three miles from Sue Murray.

In a statement, Gainey said equitable pool access was important for the city, and that he heard the residents’ criticism loud and clear. A security detail will also be stationed at the Sue Murray pool during hours of operation.

“My administration spent a lot of time listening and learning about how important Sue Murray is to this community,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “We apologize for not opening this pool in a timely fashion, but we will always do the work it takes to make things right.”

With Sue Murray opening, there will be 12 Pittsburgh city pools open this year. That is up from eight that opened last year. The city has been struggling to fill all lifeguard positions to reopen all of its 18 pools, despite increasing pay and perks.

A change in hours was also announced for Riverview pool. A full list of hours and pools open is available at the CitiParks website.