Pennsylvania’s public colleges and universities would have to open up their swimming pools to the surrounding community if one state lawmaker has his way.
The change would offer swimming access to more people in the Keystone State, giving them opportunities to exercise and have fun, Sen. Marty Flynn said in a memo describing his idea.
“Our public universities are important community assets, and where these institutions already maintain swimming facilities, reasonable public access should be available when it does not interfere with academic, athletic or institutional programming,” the Lackawanna County Democrat wrote in the June 29 memo.
The forthcoming bill would require certain colleges and universities to open up their pools for at least 25 hours per week, with at least some of that time scheduled during weekends or evenings. The schools could charge fees or develop membership plans for community members, he said.
These rules would apply to Penn State University, Temple University, the University of Pittsburgh and Lincoln University, as well as schools in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
