YMCA portable pool a go for Williamsburg County | News
Kids in Walterboro and St. George learn water safety, thanks to a portable pool program through the YMCA and community partners.
Williamsburg County has voted to move forward with a swim safety and education partnership with the Georgetown YMCA that will bring a portable pool to the county this summer.
David Byrd and Erin Pate of the Open Spaces Institute presented the idea of a portable pool to the Williamsburg County Council in November 2024. Their proposal highlighted the growing need for water safety programs in the area, especially with the development of Black River State Park, which will increase public access to the river and other water activities.
The 700 square foot portable pool, which has been successfully used in Charleston, Dorchester, and Summerville since 2013, is designed for teaching swimming and drowning prevention. Made from steel and permitted by DHEC, the pool functions like a regular public pool, providing a safe and secure environment for children to learn valuable water safety skills. In 2023, the program taught 335 children across Colleton and Dorchester counties how to stay safe around water.
Donna Brown from Georgetown County YMCA appeared before County Council at the March meeting. “When second graders come to us they are so afraid of water,” she said. “When they leave, they are diving in like fish. This is what we want to bring to Williamsburg County.”
The portable pool program is part of a larger national effort to reduce drowning deaths, with the CDC reporting approximately 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths in the United States each year, particularly among non-Hispanic Black or African-American children aged one to four. According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children age one to 14 years. The U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan recommends all people have access to basic swimming and water safety skills to reduce drowning deaths.
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“We’re ready to make a real difference in the lives of these kids,” said Brown. “This isn’t just about learning to swim; it’s about providing a life skill that can save lives.”
YMCA program will work closely with Williamsburg County Parks and Recreation to determine a location for the pool, and to communicate information about the swim safety classes. YMCA trained lifeguards will teach classes and monitor swimmers. A locked cover will be placed over the pool when not in use.
The portable pool is a temporary solution to keeping children safe in Williamsburg County.
Currently, Williamsburg County has no active community pools. The Tomlinson community pool has been closed for over 30 years, and while there have been efforts to reopen the St. Lawrence community pool, a lack of funding and resources have stalled the process indefinitely.
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