Baltimore warns against trespassing at closed park pools

Children were seen climbing a fence and jumping into Patterson Park Swimming Pool Tuesday night, a fresh example of the summer problem Baltimore officials say keeps returning: once a pool is closed, some people still try to get in.

The warning carries more weight because the city has already dealt with a near-fatal case. Last July, a 25-year-old man entered Walter P. Carter Pool after hours and nearly drowned before Baltimore Police helicopter Foxtrot landed nearby and a flight officer performed CPR that saved his life. City recreation officials say that kind of rescue is exactly why closed pools are locked, fenced and posted with warning signs.

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks says the city has 22 indoor and outdoor pools, but access is limited by staffing and safety rules. Capacity can change depending on the lifeguard-swimmer ratio, and city pool rules require children 13 and under to be supervised by an adult 21 or older. Children younger than 6 must be accompanied by an adult in swim attire and stay within arm's reach. Running, pushing, hazardous play and entering while under the influence of alcohol or drugs are also barred.

The city’s concern is not new. In July 2022, officials warned about increased trespassing after a near-drowning at Roosevelt Pool involving a 15-year-old boy. Nikki Cobbs, the city’s chief of aquatics, said then that trespassers had also caused damage, including broken glass and a pool closure for cleanup. In 2025, Baltimore officials said they had already responded to the Walter P. Carter incident by locking gates, building higher fences and releasing PSA videos.

Karen Jordan, Baltimore City’s deputy director of recreation, later said the city sees people enter closed pools consistently and that the behavior is common in Baltimore and nationwide. That helps explain why the current message is aimed not just at swimmers, but at neighbors and parents who may see children heading toward a fenced-off pool after hours. City recreation officials are urging people to intervene or call police when they see anyone trying to use a closed pool, especially when no trained lifeguard is on duty.

The timing matters for families looking for a legal place to cool off. Baltimore’s six park pools are open only on weekends right now, with six-day-a-week operation scheduled to begin June 16. City pool pages also direct residents to check the city website and @recnparks social media for schedule changes, a reminder that opening hours can shift as staffing changes. For a city with 22 pools, the challenge this summer is not just building access to water, but making sure the water remains safe once the gates are open.