It's a basic pool and it's free. Therefore, I don't expect luxury locker rooms but the pool seems relatively clean, and there are usually plenty of lounge chairs. My biggest complaint is the sheer volume of whistle blowing. There is one guard that I think swallowed his so every time he breathes you hear it. I'm a single woman, so I don't particularly love rowdy games of Marco Polo, but you gotta let these kids have fun. I once heard him whistle at someone during a break. Nobody was even in the pool. Honestly, if there wasn't multiple whistles per minute, I would be shocked. This guy definitely has a power complex! It's absurd. Also, no adult swim. Every 45 minutes they empty the entire pool for 15 minutes. I was sitting on the edge (my feet weren't even in the water) and I got a whistle blown at me and told to back away from the water. read more

It's a free pool, so no complaints there. Lots of lounge chairs and a big main pool and separate baby pool make for a good time no matter your age. However, it's definitely somewhat lacking. Compared with other DCPR facilities, it measures poorly in cleanliness (locker rooms specifically - the bathrooms are always out of toilet paper and it's always nasty in there). The staff is also worse here than other places; the check-in lady was super rude to a Spanish speaking family in line and the lifeguards don't seem to pay a lot of attention (so watch your own kids closely). They also enforce rules pretty strangely - my daughter was told she couldn't have a smoothie yet we watched people walk in with bags of fast food and eat with no problem. For better or worse, the clothing rules aren't enforced either. As my 5 year old says, "You get what you get and you don't get upset." read more

This place has very strict policy and the clothing requirements are garbage. The bathroom is dirty as if they haven't cleaned for 10 years and the pool is very full. The only good thing is that it's free. read more

It's your basic public pool no more no less. It has a somewhat clean but not well maintained pool, dirty bathrooms, and uncaring staff. There's plenty of chairs some shady spots, life vests and it's near the 52/54 bus stops read more

Upshur Outdoor Pool - Main pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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No complaints, calm atmosphere, very crowded but baby pool and pool are great. They give out vests for children. There is no privacy when changing , but it's reasonable. Can't complain all dc residents are free read more

Pool itself is great. The water is clean-ish...(you're gonna get a few hairs) but I've never questioned it. There are plenty of chairs and you're allowed to move them to wherever they're needed. However there's only one out of two shade structures utilized and people tend to camp those precious spots. Kind of a pain if you show up any later than opening. The bathrooms are atrocious. I get that it's a public pool, but they don't check up on them during the day for cleanliness or restock toilet paper at all. read more

This pool is easy to find, has ample parking, lots of chairs and they didn't check IDs last Sunday. Its free for DC residents and supposed to be $7 for non-residents. The bathrooms did not have TP and were a bit stinky....but hey, its a free PUBLIC pool and you probably shouldnt be hanging out in the locker room anyway. It looked like the only rules were no running, no dunking, and no kids in the lap lanes. I brought in some snacks and drinks and it seemed fine. The pool area is big enough that a red plastic cup can go under the radar. read more

One of the perks of being a DC resident is having free access to their public swimming pools. I frequent the Upshur pool (located in Petsworth, north of Columbia Heights) several times a week. Asides from the less than immaculate restrooms at the Upshur pool, the facilities aren't -too- bad. - The pool and the grounds are clean. - There are enough loungers and space to stretch out and soak up the sun. - It does not get terribly crowded, even on hot and sunny days. - The pool is a good size. (In comparison, Upshur pool is at least twice as large as the Georgetown pool.) - No lines to get in (unlike the Georgetown pool, which I've experienced long waits when they reach full capacity). - The water can be chilly (in 90+ degree weather, it's incredibly refreshing). The hot and humid summers in DC can be almost unbearable. What better relief than to spend your days lounging by or in an open air pool? Note: The Upshur pool is closed on Mondays. read more

Much much much improvement from the years previously! The pool staff is nice! The pool seems much more clean and well kept than previously. The bathrooms could just use a tad but more tending to. Otherwise... Great pool for my 5 year old to be pretty independent. read more

Upshur Outdoor Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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MEH. I trekked all the way up here and it is really crowded. The water was warm with people's bodies. It's a nice mix of families and young folk. But I'd rather use my own backyard and a hose. It's way too crowded for my liking. read more

I guess this review could be 2.5 if Yelp allowed half stars. The pool was generally well kept and clean. There were plenty of lounge chairs and for the most part the patrons were friendly moms with their toddlers. I would say this pool is more kid-friendly as there is no deep end (2.5' - 5'). Although there is a swim lane (no floating/lounging kids allowed) for those who would rather do laps. The pool is free with a DC ID, not sure what the cost is for non-residents. The changing rooms/restrooms are what you would expect from a public pool. Overall, great location with plenty of parking. Super convenient. Decent sized, good temperature pool to cool you off in the summer. read more

I feel like someone directly took my previous feedback and they have really turned it around! It seems almost like they have 3rd party lifeguards now or actually have a good budget but they have a new team or clearly trained lifeguards that act very professional. (Besides two guys at the front but I'll get to that). The positives about the location, seating, and cleanliness etc. still stand but now I feel like I actually trust the lifeguards to protect people. The guards on post actually keep their head on a swivel (it's legit). My only complaint is I overheard 2 separate conversations on 2 separate days from an employee looking at ID cards at the main entrance. In the first, he was describing the details of various firearms from a video game while the line moved (a bit unprofessional topic but nbd). All in all total 5/5. Great changes and great response to the local feedback. The biggest thing to remember about a pool is that it is all about the kids... So if you wouldn't want a kid to do hear it, do it, or consume it then don't do it ANYWHERE on the pool property. read more

Great free daycare, but not really a spot to get laps in you unless wanna navigate unsupervised children like slalom buoys. Now excuse me while I go and yell at this cloud. read more

Of the pools I've been to in DC, I'd call Upshur very average. It's not awful, but also not great. It's a bit smaller than the others (Banneker, Hains Point, Harry Thomas Sr, West End), and very family-oriented. I went the last weekend pools were open this season, and it was packed. The deck chairs are definitely nicer than at other places (not the standard white plastic). There is a lane to swim laps, but, as others have mentioned, the pool is fairly shallow and it's barely cordoned off anyways. I doubt that I'll go back. read more

I love the pool--it's a great free place to go and chill. It's usually not too crowded and I ave always found a chair. The lifeguards are 15 or so and text while they guard our lives...so don't count on them to save you. But besides that, great local place! read more

Not a good pool for lap swimming. The shallow end is 2'6" deep. OK for flip turns but it's very easy to go to deep and hit bottom. It's more of a family pool. there are three ladders in the lap lane so kids get in and out that way. I look forward to going back to hang out. I'll probably go back to Key or another pool next time I want to swim laps outside. read more

It was a surprisingly good experience. I got there right when it opened so it was not crowded. The locker room was clean and there were plenty of lawn chairs. My kids enjoyed their time and I love that they had vests for the little people. Overall a great experience! read more

Not a bad spot for a pool. Only bad thing is that each lifeguard seemed to have different rules. Other than that it was okay. Not to crowd compared to other pools. read more

I went to this pool with my 9 year old daughter and her friend today (May 24th 2014), the first fay of Memorial Day Weekend and the opening day of the season, only to find out the pool is not ready today, and maybe not tomorrow, due to the "Chlorine Level". While there is a small kiddy pool, it too was closed because the one lifeguard was "at lunch" (this at 3pm.) Fortunately, the Banneker Pool on Ga Avenue turned out to be open, and my daughter and her friend had a great time playing with the few kids who were there(it was a cold day). I will call here before coming back, if I ever do, which is not likely, though I live a few blocks away. read more

It's 96 degrees outside and I'm here standing with my kids waiting for the pool to be opened. Signs shows different times. Open 11 am and the other one show open 1 pm. More people are showing up and there's no one answering the phone. People in charge of this recreation center are just unprofessional. At leats put a sign letting everyone know when and what time the pool will be open. Very upset about this. read more

Upshur Pool was a very pleasant surprise on a very hot Sunday. We typically go to the Francis Pool in Dupont Circle with our three boys (4, 7, 9) because of the beach-style ramp entry. It's nice with small kids, but not overly convenient to where we live. Scouting for pools closer to home, I was frustrated trying to find details on the two closest to us (Banneker and Upshur) and even resorted to the satellite views in Google Maps to guesstimate depth. Upshur clearly had a sizable kiddie pool and the entire big pool was light blue (suggesting no true "deep end"). Google Maps: http://bit.ly/17cb0x So, we gave it a try. My guesses proved accurate. the shallow end was a perfect 3.5 feet (no problem for an experienced 4 year old) and got no deeper than 4.5 in the deepest part. Other good points: - the chairs were hard to come by but relatively new and high quality. - Same for the smattering of umbrella tables. - The lifeguards were, for DC pools, refreshingly mellow regarding horseplay in the pool and even the use of (GASP!) arm floaties for young kids (verBOTEN at Francis) despite one of DC's odder systemwide pool rules. - Even on a 95 degree Sunday in mid-afternoon, the pool was busy, but not crowded. We managed to score a pair of lounges and a table within 20 minutes of arrival and there was always elbow room to spare in the pool. - Pool clearly had a very strong community feel. If you live nearby or have friends who do, don't be surprised to see them there. We know exactly two families who live close to Upshur and BOTH just happened to be there. And THEY seemed to know most everyone else. - We found street parking right out front. Since it was Sunday, I can't remember if there were meters. Negatives: - The bathrooms were usable and clean, but ANCIENT (blocky metal toilets) with lots of chipped paint that, on first glance, looked heavily soiled. They weren't, but it was a bit off putting. Not much of a negative, really. - If you want to swim laps (which we didn't) this isn't the pool. The roped off area is VERY small (the short side of the pool) I can't comment on the kiddie pool since we didn't use it, but it was unusually large and those in it seemed to having a good time. read more

Not sure why so many people gave upshur good reviews. Pool was very crowded with lots of rowdy teens. Very few pool chairs and this on a Thursday afternoon. First and las time I will go back. Pools in DuPont circle and Georgetown much better. read more

Husband and I love the pool and most of the folks who go there. Lifeguards and management are friendly but too immature and not capable of handling patrons who are aggressive, offensive, and hostile. On our last visit, husband and I walked through the men's locker room with our 2.5 yo daughter, as we always do, on our way out of the pool. As we were changing from our suits into our clothing, another male patron in the locker room claimed that girls were not allowed in the men's locker room and that he knew this because he was a lifeguard. (The policy is that child can't be over 6.) He then started to shout at us, called us "faggots" and called our daughter a "whore." He called our 2.5 yo daughter a "whore." I left the locker room, went to the office, and asked for a manager. I told him about the situation, and he returned to the locker room and had a conversation (which I did not hear) with the guy. The manager left, and the patron started up again with the epithets. I went out again to the office and told the person at the desk to get the manager. At that point, we were on our way out, so we left. Next time I'll just call the police. Pool managers need to be trained on how to remove unruly patrons from the facility. read more