Willam Rumsey Aquatic Center (635 N Carolina Ave. SE) reopened Tuesday after repairs to the HVAC system were complete.
The pool was closed in late June for repairs to the roof after several tiles collapsed, causing lanes to be closed. The pool reopened in early July only to be closed again by early August, this time for repairs to the HVAC system, which was causing extreme swings in the water temperature.
The facility is named for Dr. William H. Rumsey. Starting out in maintenance at the Dunbar pool, Rumsey went on to become principal of McKinley Technical High School and an education adviser to Mayor Walter E. Washington before becoming deputy director of the District’s recreation department in 1974. He co-founded DPR’s Black History Invitational Swim Meet (BHISM) in 1987.
Rumsey Pool is slated for a full renovation, but that will take several years to complete. Ward 6 Councilmember Chalres Allen (D) pushed to include $15 million over the next six years for modernization of the Rumsey Aquatic Center. The design process is expected to begin in fall or winter 2022 with meetings hosted by both DC Department of Recreation (DC DPR) and the Department of General Services (DGS).
According to DPR’s website, Rumsey Pool is open Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed Sundays.
