Salvatore ’93 and the Prep Work Together to Open City Pools

Summer is quickly approaching, and for many people, this means relaxing days at the beach or pool. However, in the city, access to pools is limited; in fact, in recent years, many pools couldn’t open due to lack of staffing. For Bill Salvatore ’93, Deputy Commissioner of Philadelphia Department of Recreation, this is unacceptable.

“Not every kid will have the opportunity to go to the shore or an easy way to cool down in the summer,” says Salvatore, who is in charge of the city’s pools, rec centers, playgrounds, and ice rinks. “Their public neighborhood pool is an oasis for them. It is so important to them. It is really a call to action for our communities.”

The city has funding to pay 430 lifeguards to open all of the city pools full time, but not enough people to fill those positions. They have raised money to offer sign-on bonuses for potential lifeguards, but even if they had the people to fill every position, they faced another problem: finding enough indoor pools in the city to certify or recertify all of the guards. That’s where the Prep came in.

Working with Dan Diberardinis, Athletic Director, the city is holding certification classes at the Prep three times a week. To Salvatore, this is a huge opportunity.

“We have availability in pools in some areas of the city but had nothing in North Philadelphia,” he says. “Having access to the Prep pool allows teens from that area, from Kensington, from Strawberry Mansion, from Swampoodle, and areas in between to have the ability to train and find good, steady work that is a benefit to the community.”

The community service aspect is one of the things that Salvatore loves about his job. He has worked in the Department of Recreation since high school when he started as a camp counselor. He moved into Rec full-time in 2007 and into his current role in 2022. 

“I really love this city and I think Philadelphians deserve the best, from the youngest of the young to the oldest of the old,” he says. “We are the most front-facing of any city department; nearly everybody touches our department in some way. In my job, I have the chance to see every neighborhood and learn how we can support their needs.”

Salvatore isn’t the only Prep Hawk working on this project. Pat Morgan ’97 is Parks and Rec’s 1st Deputy Commissioner for Strategy & Engagement and Alex Hughes-Taylor ’05 is the aquatics director who oversees the lifeguard training. Salvatore thinks it’s no coincidence that they all work in roles that impact the lives of people in the community.

“We were taught to be men for others,” he says. “It was instilled in us to do what’s best for others.”