MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Residents in one North Memphis neighborhood say kids will have nothing to do this summer after the city demolished a public pool and closed a nearby park for a much-needed facelift.
Neighbors near Ayers and Peach said Tom Lee Pool was bulldozed last week.
The community pool sits right behind the old Carnes Elementary School. There are Memphis City signs around the pool, but the city told WREG it does not own the pool.
A spokesperson for the city said the pool belongs to Memphis Shelby County Schools and the school district had sold or leased the vacant school building to a nonprofit.
“That pool has been there all my life,” said Charvette Conley.
Conley lives across the street from Tom Lee Pool. She said the pool was closed during COVID, and she was looking forward to using it this summer.
“I went there every other day just to dip my foot in the water,” said Conley.
Conley and others in her neighborhood kids need a place to go and something to do.
“That’s the only pool in the area that kids have to go in and get a little recreation,” said one dad.
With nearby Morris Park also closed for renovations, neighbors said children and teens would have few options this summer.
“Just on the street isn’t going to work,” said Conley.
WREG contacted Memphis Shelby Schools to find out what is being done with the Carnes school building but have not received a response.