Dormont Pool is big. It’s because of this that the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation found reason to deem the state’s largest public pool — measuring 42,000 square feet — historic. “It is our most outstanding feature in Dormont,” said Councilwoman Maggi Mitro, who applied for the historic designation. The pool will receive its official designation during a ceremony Monday in front of the pool recreation center. Mitro said the designation is hopefully the first step in helping the borough attract grant money to pay for proposed renovations to the 73-year-old community landmark. Earlier this month, council opted for the least expensive of four alternatives to improve the pool. The borough plans to spend slightly more than $800,000 to improve drainage and filtration systems and improve locker rooms. Part of the pool also could be made deeper to accommodate diving boards. Three other options ranged from $3.7 million to $6.7 million and would have meant major reconstruction, including replacing the current pool with a much smaller one. Mitro hopes the historic designation will help the borough compete for grants that will chip away at the renovation costs. “Once you get designated you can begin going through historical foundations and seek grant money through them,” she said. “I’m sure there’s some grants statewide that will help local historical foundations add to the culture.” Cathy McCollom, director of operations and marketing for the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, said it’s not unusual for historic designation recipients to be awarded grants. She said the foundation has a strong reputation statewide and nationally which should work in Dormont’s favor. But there never have been grants awarded “based totally on our designation,” she said. “Should a building be deemed a landmark-designated historic building, it is favorably viewed from that point on from a state and national level,” McCollom said. “I think it sets them apart from a pack in a favorable manner.” To be designated historic by the foundation, the structure must be at least 50 years old, in Allegheny County and have unique characteristics either architecturally or to the community. The Dormont Pool is the first pool ever given the historic designation by the foundation. McCollom said the foundation weighed its position as the largest public pool in the state and “the fact that it’s been an important and integral part of the community for literally decades.” While the pool officially opened on July 4, 1929, its origins can be traced to the summer of 1920, when Andrew Philip tossed some rocks into a creek by his Banksville Road home to make a pond for his children, according to a borough history. The pond became larger and deeper as the number of children flocking to it increased. It went through several construction phases between 1922 and 1929, when the bathhouse and completed pool officially were opened. McCollom said the historic designation is merely honorary and doesn’t keep the borough from making major changes to the facility. “We’re the largest public swimming pool in Pennsylvania,” Mitro said. “It’s a great asset to the community. Why not build on it?”

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