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Wu announces more funding for free swimming lessons for underserved youth

The city is on track to have more pools open this summer than in previous summers, it said in a press release.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu shakes hands from the pool as she swims following a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of the renovated BCYF Paris Street pool. Mayor Wu announced Swim Safe Boston, a new City initiative to expand residents and families access to opportunities to learn how to swim and water safely resources. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

By Emily Spatz

2 minutes to read

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced expanded funding Thursday for a city program that provides free swimming lessons to children in “historically underserved” communities. 

The expansion is part of the city’s Swim Safe Program, which provides free swimming lessons, lifejackets, and lifeguard training to ensure safety in the city’s pools and coastal areas. The latest round of funding, which Wu announced jointly with the Human Services Cabinet and Boston Centers for Youth and Families, will continue to support free lessons that were made available through funding last fall, according to a press release.

“As a coastal city, we want to make sure all our young people can safely enjoy our water and pools,” Wu said in a statement. “By expanding our Swim Safe partnership, we’re ensuring our youth are also able to explore all their interests to make Boston the best place to raise a family.”

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Since the program started in July 2023, more than 1,000 youths aged 6 months to 18 years old have received free lessons.

“To continue to support the high demand for free swim lessons and importance of water safety in a coastal city, Boston is expanding the program to offer additional support to aquatics providers,” the city said in the press release.

Fatal drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 years old, according to the release, and Black and Latino youth are less likely to know how to swim due to accessibility barriers.  

The city said it is “acting with urgency” to renovate several city-owned pools. The BCYF Marshall Pool in Dorchester, which was closed for years, reopened last fall. BCYF Mattahunt Community Center pool in Mattapan will reopen this summer after being closed for renovations, according to the release.

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“Because of a collaboration between Boston Public Schools, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Public Facilities Department, and the Property Management Department, investments of City funding, and improved facilities assessment, the City is on track to have more pools open this year than in previous summers, including the BCYF Clougherty, Draper, Hennigan, Marshall, Mattahunt, and Perkins pools,” the city’s statement said. 

This winter, swimming lessons were provided at pools operated by the YMCA of Greater Boston, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, and DotHouse Health. 

“This investment is critical to addressing the alarming number of youth — in particular minority youth — who cannot swim,” said Marta E. Rivera, Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families in a statement. “We welcome our aquatics partners to join us in providing free lessons across the city.”

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