Free swimming is coming to Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood pool. Here are the details

Oak Park residents can now enjoy free access to the McClatchy Park pool, thanks to “Caity’s Cool Down,” a new pool accessibility program by Sacramento Councilwoman Caity Maple.

The free access is limited to the summer for minors accompanied by a supervising adult, but Maple’s Chief of Staff Ryan K. Brown said the goal is to make the community pool accessible to any child, regardless of their residence.

“It’s about kids who need to swim, period,” said Brown.

Access to the McClatchy swimming pool, 3500 Fifth Ave., opened on Friday, and will last through the summer.

The path to the pool

The seed for a free pool program began when Maple’s district director, Michael Benjamin II, was brainstorming ideas to work with the youth in Oak Park.

“One of the best ways to engage the youth in the community, especially in the summertime, is to take away the barrier of paying to come to the local swimming pool,” Benjamin said.

Oak Park is one of Sacramento’s historically Black neighborhoods. Gentrification and inflation have led to a skyrocketing of rent prices, which Oak Park residents feel at an inordinate rate. District 5, which is where Oak Park is located, houses many low-income individuals who might not be able to afford air conditioning.

“A community pool is not just a fun thing,” Maple said. “It’s a needed resource.”

With that idea, Maple, Benjamin and the rest of their team went door-to-door asking residents to sponsor free swimming access this summer for kids.

After hearing about the initiative, Sen. Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento, called her friend Kevin Loscotoff, who is from Sacramento and the director of public affairs and government relations at Wal-Mart Stores, and secured a $10,000 donation.

“We believe that investing in local programs that promote health, safety and inclusivity is essential to building stronger, more vibrant communities,” Loscotoff said.

Next steps for Caity’s cool down

Funding for the program will only last through the summer, but Brown said that they’re “hoping to expand it to a permanent program later this year.”

“We’re going to have events throughout the summer at the pool, but just know that we’re here, and we’re ready to swim,” said Maple.

Maple said she hopes to bring this program to the other community pool in District 5, Mangan Pool, next.