Swimming: A YMCA Legacy

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Swimming and aquatics programs have always been a major part of the YMCA’s work and heritage. In Fort Worth, the indoor pool at the Downtown YMCA was one of the few places residents could swim year-round and many members enjoyed taking advantage of it. In fact, here’s what a newsletter from September, 1933 said about the YMCA pool:

“The Y is one of the very few places where you can swim in pure filtered water 12 months of every year. “

The picture below was taken from the same newsletter, showing young men ready for a splash in the pool.

Early swim class at Downtown YMCA

YMCA 1933 Swim Class

Eastside YMCA Splash

2009 Splash Day at Eastside YMCA

Today, outdoor swimming is available in 9 YMCA pools during the summer months.  In addition, 5 indoor pools also provide year-round programming, including the original indoor pool at the Downtown YMCA as well as a newer lap pool seen at street level.  The YMCA also now offers two outdoor family water parks for its members at the Ryan Family YMCA and the Northpark YMCA.

Ryan Family YMCA Waterpark

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Welcome to the blog celebrating the 120-year history of the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth. In this blog, we will have information for those interested in history, Fort Worth or the YMCA – month by month, decade by decade.

Were you a YMCA member or participant years ago? Do you remember camp outs at Camp Carter or swimming at the Downtown Y? We invite you to share your YMCA memories in this blog – let us know what you remember or what you enjoy most now as a member of the YMCA. We can’t wait to hear from you!