ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta has announced that all public pools are closed until further notice.
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Channel 2 Action News reached out to the City of Atlanta, who said any information about the closures would need to come from Atlanta Police.
Police said it may be related to an incident that happened Saturday at the Anderson Park Pool. Atlanta police said a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed after an argument with a man that escalated into gunfire. Police have not released the name of the shooter or the victim.
The City of Atlanta said in a statement that the pools closed down due to an “operational assessment.”
“The Department of Parks and Recreation is completing an operational assessment of all City of Atlanta outdoor pools at this time. Out of an abundance of caution for our residents and staff, it remains necessary to keep the pools closed until further notice,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. “These closures are for the outdoor pools managed by the City of Atlanta and does not affect indoor natatoriums or splashpads.”
Channel 2′s Richard Elliot said that American Pools, the private company hired to manage outdoor City of Atlanta pools has come under intense criticism from some city of Atlanta residents this summer.
Update: July 25, 2021: All City of Atlanta pools are closed until further notice. Please stay tuned for additional updates.
— ATL Parks & Rec (@ATLParksandRec) July 25, 2021
City Councilman Matt Westmoreland said on Twitter that he just found out about the closure on social media.
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Earlier this year, the city announced that all public pools would be free to patrons through the summer. Pools began operating at limited capacity on May 29.
City of Atlanta outdoor pools include the ones at Adams Park, Anderson Park, Candler Park, Grant Park, John A. White Park, Maddox Park, Pittman Park, Powell at Mozley Park, Rev. James Orange Park, Rosa L. Burney Park, South Bend Park and Thomasville Park.
The city also has four indoor pools, C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center, M.L. King Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center, Rosel Fann Recreation Center and Washington Park Recreation Center. Those pools will remain open, as will the city’s splash pads.
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