Takoma Recreation Center

Important note: This pool is never operated in the 50 meter configuration. It is always in the 25 yard configuration. If you want 50 meters, you have to go to the Wilson Aquatic Center pool.

Things have changed at this pool.

I just returned from trying to swim at Takoma Aquatic Center on a Thursday night and it is obvious that the facility is overbooked. There has always been a swim team at this location but it is so large now that I actually saw one of the coaches counting the kids. I don't know how you keep track of all those children safely.

There were also swim lessons in the shallow end, leaving limited swim lanes for lap or casual swimmers, to the point where I saw a very ugly verbal altercation between people trying to use the four lanes that lap swimming has been cut down to. I chose to leave rather than swim in such as unpleasant situation.

I think we should have a right to swim as much as anyone else; just because we don't pay to swim as these teams do means we get pushed around. Most people work during the day so I don't understand why the facilities aren't available at the peak times. I am happy to share the pool with the teams, but when ninety percent of the pool is monopolized by other activities it seems unfair. There are other pool facilities in DC; it seems more logical to me to spread out some of the activities to other locations so that all can use and enjoy the pool.

No notice is posted about the high volume usage of the pool at certain times either. If some notice was given ahead of time then users could at least anticipate that they would not be able to use the facility at certain times.

This is the best bet in DC for lap swimming without having to share a lane. Even during the evening peak time, when the pool is shared with various high school, club, and water polo teams, it's seldom necessary to split or circle. The facility is generally clean and well-maintained. The staff is friendly, although they are not above observing you getting settled behind a lane in the deep end and blowing the whistle only after you jump in (the deep end is often closed without any clear indication). As others have mentioned, the lockers show signs of very frequent break-ins. It appears that thieves may be able to simply rip off the plastic lock apparatus.

The water temperature is generally lower than 84ºF. Maintenance of locker room showers is spotty. Many lockers show evidence of past break-ins and cannot be securely locked.

It’s a beautiful pool.

The 84ºF temperature makes for difficult lap swimming.

The staff is friendly and helpful; the facility is modern; and the pool is large. Before 3 PM, the facility is often quite empty. Even in the evenings, there is minimal lane sharing necessary. Lanes are 25y long (lap swimming is cross-wise).Unlike other DC pools, you can secure the lockers with your own lock; no quarter is necessary to lock locker.