After a yearlong stint of renovations, the only indoor public swimming pool in Gary is open again.

The YWCA of Northwest Indiaan hosted a re-opening celebration of its swimming pool June 19. The YWCA staff, board and members joined officials, donors and community supporters in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Attendees got a first look at the pool and the improvements to the space.

“We want to thank the community for their patience as we endured a very involved process to update the pool,” said Caren Jones, YWCA of NWI executive director, in a press release. “Thanks to the generosity of donors, grants and support from the city of Gary, we are back in operation. We thought that holding the celebration on Juneteenth would make the occasion all the more significant.”

Outside groups such as the West Side Leadership Academy swim team have used the facility for practice. The YWCA also offers water aerobics and swim lessons.

Parents have expressed interest in their children learning to swim or the inclusion of swim time during the summer camp program.

“The lack of public pools in our city directly impacts our children's inability to swim,” Jones said. “That's the main reason we were eager to get the pool open as soon as possible and happy to provide this critical life skill to the loyal community we serve.”

According to a study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis, 64% of African American children cannot swim and are more likely to drown than their white counterparts.

YWCA of Northwest Indiana is a community service nonprofit. It offers health, education, social and recreation programs. It has served Gary and the surrounding region since 1920.

(Photo provided by YWCA of Northwest Indiana)