San Antonio pools reflect a history of exclusion and change
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Photo illustration: Maura Losch/Axios. Photos: Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images
Once symbols of racial exclusion, San Antonio's public pools are now targets for equity and reinvestment of millions of dollars in underserved areas.
Why it matters: San Antonio is confronting its racist past, working to make pools more accessible in a city where cooling off is critical amid extreme heat.
Flashback: In June 1954, six Black children swam at a public pool at Woodlawn Lake Park, pushing against an unwritten whites-only rule. White swimmers left, the pool shut for "repairs," and a cross was burned that night, per the Express-News.
- The next day — Juneteenth — the City Council formally banned Black residents from public pools.
- The ordinance remained until 1956, when pressure from Latino council members like Henry B. González and a federal lawsuit forced its repeal.
Between the lines: In 1943, three Mexican American men sued after being denied entry to the privately owned Terrell Wells Pool, advertised as San Antonio's only "restricted" pool.
- A lower court ruled in their favor, but the Texas Supreme Court let segregation stand — exposing the contradiction of being counted as white by the U.S. Census, but still excluded in practice, per the Bullock Museum.
What they're saying: "If there was one place the people were the most resistant to integrating, it was swimming pools, and it never really got a lot of attention," Francine Romero, a civil rights law expert and University of Texas at San Antonio professor, tells Axios.
State of play: San Antonio's Parks and Recreation Department now uses tools like the Equity Atlas and community input to guide investment in underserved areas, spokesperson Connie Swann tells Axios.
Recent and upcoming projects include:
- Cassiano Park: adding splash pad, new playground and accessible pool ($5.2M).
- District 3 Aquatic Center: new pool and splash pad near Mission Marquee ($5.1M).
- Elmendorf Lake Park: replaced aging pool, added splash pad ($2.2M, opened 2019).
- Atanacio Garcia Natatorium: Olympic-size pool revamped with retractable roof and new restrooms ($3.2M, 2024).
What's next: The city's vision for 2050 promises continued investment in historically underserved neighborhoods, with free swim lessons, fitness programs and redesigned facilities.