The reopening of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Pool marks an important milestone for the City of San Diego and the communities it serves. Following a major renovation led by the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department and supported by community partners, the pool is once again ready to provide opportunities for recreation, swim lessons, water safety education, and aquatics employment.
The Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego (PDFSD) was honored to participate in the reopening celebration and recognizes the tremendous effort that made this project possible. The investment in restoring and modernizing this facility reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that all children and families have access to safe aquatic environments and opportunities to learn life-saving skills.
Access to swimming lessons remains one of the most effective ways to prevent drowning. Through grants, scholarships, and community partnerships, PDFSD works to engage the community in a continuum of water safety programs and initiatives that provide access to the life-saving skill of swimming.
Each year, the Foundation provides approximately $100,000 in grant funding to support programs at City of San Diego pools, helping local schools and nonprofit organizations expand access to swim lessons and water safety education. These programs introduce children to the water, build confidence, and help develop skills that lead to safer experiences at pools, beaches, and other aquatic environments.
The Foundation also proudly supports scholarships for the San Diego Junior Lifeguard Program. This summer, approximately 60 youth will receive scholarships to participate in the four-week beach camp in Mission Beach, including uniforms and transportation. Many of these scholarship recipients come from communities served by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Pool. The program not only teaches ocean safety and swimming skills but also builds confidence, leadership, and lifelong healthy habits.
Aquatic success starts at an early age. Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4 and continues to be a leading cause of injury and death across many age groups. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children from lower-income households are significantly less likely to have swimming ability, highlighting the importance of reducing barriers to aquatic access.
Community pools play a critical role in addressing this need. They provide a safe environment for children to learn to swim, families to recreate together, and future lifeguards and aquatic professionals to develop the skills needed to serve their communities. Facilities like the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Pool help create a pathway from swim lessons to aquatics employment while strengthening overall community safety.
The Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego values its longstanding partnership with the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department and looks forward to supporting school swim programs and water safety initiatives at the pool beginning this fall.
Every child deserves the opportunity to be safe in and around water. When we teach a child to swim, we are not only building a skill—we are opening doors, creating opportunities, and helping save lives.
