The three-day annual event, jointly produced by DPR and the United Black Fund (UBF), will feature nearly 30 swim teams and over 1,100 swimmers ages 5-18 from across the United States.

Pool Closures in Support of the Event Include Takoma, Marie Reed, Turkey Thicket, Rumsey, Deanwood, and Ferebee-Hope Aquatic Centers

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) invites residents and visitors to the 38th Annual Black History Invitational Swim Meet (BHISM) at the Takoma Aquatic Center (300 Van Buren Street, NW) on February 14, 15, and 16, 2025.

“At DPR, we are proud to continue the 38-year legacy of promoting aquatics and competition in honor of Black History Month with this year’s edition of the Black History Invitational Swim Meet,” said DPR Director Thennie Freeman. “We welcome the competitors who have traveled here from across the United States, and we look forward an exciting weekend of sportsmanship, competition, and athletic achievement.”

The three-day annual event, jointly produced by DPR and the United Black Fund (UBF), will feature nearly 30 swim teams and over 1,100 swimmers ages 5-18 from across the United States. Swimmers compete in traditional swim events, such as the individual medley, freestyle, butterfly, relays, backstroke, and breaststroke. The swim meet will also be streamed online for spectators and competitors' families.

The Black History Invitational Swim Meet, founded in 1987 by the DPR and the United Black Fund, Inc. (UBF), provides urban youth with exposure to strong competition and a forum to meet positive role models. USA Swimming, the national governing body for the sport of swimming, recognizes it as the "premier minority swim competition in the United States and the world."

For more information and to watch the 38th Annual BHISM, visit BlackHistorySwimMeet.splashthat.com for more information about this event.

Select DPR aquatic centers will be closed for the 38th Annual Black History Invitational Swim Meet:

• Takoma Aquatic Center will serve as the host site for the BHISM and will be closed to the public on Friday-Sunday, February 14-16, 2025.
• Marie Reed Aquatic Center will be closed on Saturday, February 15.
• William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center will be closed on Saturday, February 15
• Turkey Thicket Aquatic Center will be closed for annual scheduled maintenance from February 15 to March 2, 2025.
• Deanwood Aquatic Center will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, February 15 and 16.
• Ferebee-Hope Aquatic Center will be closed on Saturday, February 15.

The following aquatic centers remain open for residents to use through the weekend:

• Wilson Aquatic Center is open standard hours:
  • Friday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Saturday & Sunday: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Roosevelt Aquatic Center is open standard hours:
  • Friday: 6 AM - 8 AM and 5 PM - 9 PM
• Dunbar Aquatic Center is open standard hours:
  • Friday: 6 AM - 8 AM and 5 PM - 9 PM
• Reservoir Park Aquatic Center is open standard hours:
  • Friday: 12 PM - 8 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Joy Evans Therapeutic Aquatic Center is open standard hours:
  • Friday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Ballou Aquatic Center is open standard hours:
  • Friday: 6 AM - 8 AM and 5 PM - 9 PM
• Barry Farm Aquatic Center is open standard hours:
  • Friday: 6 AM - 9 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM - 5 PM

NOTE: All DPR facilities (including all aquatic centers) will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of Presidents Day.

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