"It's such an enchanting and mysterious thing, an empty swimming pool,"
says Susan Englert, who helped create the Leslie Park Pool Collective.
"We wanted the neighbors who were upset by the loss of the pool, which
closed along with 18 other pools in 2003 due to budget problems, to
really start thinking differently about the space."
A year and a half ago, Susan asked her friend and Lawrenceville
neighbor, Deborah Knox, to help with a plan that seemed crazy to many
at the time: reusing the empty pool as a performing and community space.
Susan was inspired by the revitalization of the McCarren Park Pool in
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, which after years of abandonment, began hosting
big name indie rock acts, film screenings, dodgeball tournaments, and
craft fairs.
With the help of Councilman
Patrick Dowd, Lawrenceville United, and a team of volunteers, the women
cleaned the pool and hosted the Accordion Pool Party in the Leslie last
September, featuring dozens of musicians, and to Susan and Deb's shock,
over 600 attendees.
They had originally
planned a one time event, but after the success of the accordion event,
Senator Ferlo and Councilman Dowd encouraged them to keep going. They
established the Leslie Park Pool Collective with help from the city, and
set up meetings with the community to find out what kinds of events
people would like. In the fall,
Carnegie Mellon University's
School of
Architecture and
The
Art Institute are taking the Leslie on as a project for their
students,
to further explore public uses for the pool.
"It's
starting to take root. Something delightful, something with promise,
something that's good for the economic development of Lawrenceville,"
says Susan. The work done up until now has manifested itself as a three
event series called Deep Summer, which includes the following free
all-ages events.
SpillapaloozaJuly 10 12:30-7 p.m.An grassroots
fundraiser for the Louisiana non-profit Gulf Restoration Network,
featuring DIY Pittsburgh activist Shane Freeman, activities for kids,
and musical performances by Boca Chica, Joy Ike, and others.
DeependJuly 24 6 p.m.-duskA night of surf rock produced by Zombo, with local and
national bands like Kabuki Surf and The Action Cats.
Deep SkyJuly 25 8-11 p.m.An urban stargazing extravaganza hosted by Google Pittsburgh,
featuring giant 200 lb. telescopes.
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Source: Susan Englert and Deborah
Knox, Leslie Park Pook Collective
Writer:
John FarleyPhotograph
courtesy Leslie Park Pool Collective.