South Chicago’s long-quiet indoor pool might finally get its comeback. Organizers at the SALUD Center have launched a fresh fundraising push to revive the former YMCA pool, which has been closed since the South Chicago YMCA shut its doors in 2017, taking with it the neighborhood’s only year-round indoor place to swim. Local leaders and civic groups say they need roughly $3.5 million to bring the pool up to code and to cover lessons, lifeguards, maintenance and other programming costs. If they hit that mark, the doors could be open to swimmers again by 2028.
The SALUD Center at 3039 E. 91st St. combines renovated senior apartments with about 40,000 square feet of community space built out after the old Y was redeveloped. As reported by Block Club Chicago, P33 and partners including the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park and Claretian Associates have launched a campaign organizers estimate will need about $3.5 million to restore the pool, fund programming and create local jobs. Preservation of Affordable Housing notes that the broader project includes senior housing and community facilities tied to the SALUD Center’s continued revitalization.
Olympian and Tech Partners Hold 'Making Waves' Reception
Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones stopped by the SALUD Center in early May to help boost the campaign and to talk about why access to swim lessons matters, according to WGN-TV coverage republished by AOL. P33’s chief growth officer, Tifair Hamed, has urged companies tied to the nearby Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park to step up as community partners and has publicly backed the fundraising drive through P33 Chicago’s channels. Organizers billed the event as “Making Waves for South Chicago” and say it brought out business leaders, neighbors and local service providers.
Why Reopening Matters
Supporters of the project say reopening the pool would bring back a multigenerational hub where residents can learn water safety, take exercise classes and pick up summer jobs. The stakes are backed up by national research: the American Academy of Pediatrics has documented large racial disparities in drowning and access to water-safety resources, and public health studies show Black and American Indian/Alaska Native youth face higher drowning death rates than their white peers. Local organizers argue that a year-round indoor pool could significantly expand swim lessons and water-safety programming that families in the area simply do not have right now.
Next Steps and Timeline
Organizers have set their sights on 2028 to get the pool back in service if fundraising and renovations stay on track, according to reporting by Block Club Chicago. Claretian Associates, which runs the SALUD Center, says the money raised will go toward repairs, lifeguard training and sustained programming, while partners coordinate to match community needs with workforce opportunities. For updates or information on how to support the campaign, organizers are sharing details through P33 Chicago and Claretian’s community channels.
