South End leaders urge fast repairs for Blackstone pool, call for in‑community hearing

Jonathan Alves, president of the Washington Harrison Neighborhood Association, and Steve Fox of the South End Forum described how the Blackstone Community Center has served generations of neighborhood residents and called the pool's closure a loss of a critical public resource.

Alves said he spoke with dozens of residents and community organizations that submitted letters urging repairs. "I AM PRETTY DISAPPOINTED WHEN I LOOK AROUND THE CHAMBER TODAY AND I DON'T SEE ANY CITY REPRESENTATIVES," he said, asking the committee to hold an on‑site meeting to amplify resident testimony. Steve Fox described a broader "facility desert" in the South End, pointing to a closed library and limited community meeting spaces as part of the same problem.

Both urged the council to prioritize the Blackstone renovation in the capital planning process, to bolster local advocacy groups such as Friends of the Blackstone School, and to explore partnerships with private or nonprofit pools to temporarily provide lessons while long‑term repairs proceed.