2024 Outdoor Pool FAQs

For the 2024 pool season, you must have a membership to one of our YGBW branches to access our outdoor pools. You cannot have an outdoor pool membership without a facility membership for any YGBW branch, with the exception of the Kennett Area YMCA (details below).

For those who join YGBW by April 1, 2024:
If you have joined YGBW by April 1, 2024 with an eligible membership type (see below for eligible membership types) AND consistently maintain your YGBW membership without interruption (meaning the membership is not on hold) through the outdoor pool season, you will not pay an additional fee to access any of YGBW’s outdoor pools.

Eligible Membership Types include:

• Young Adult Membership
• Adult Membership
• Senior Membership
• Two-Person or Senior Two-Person Membership
• Family 1 Adult Membership
• Family 2 Adult Membership
• Family 3-4 Adult Membership
• Silver & Fit
• SilverSneakers
• Renew Active
• Health Partners Plan
• YMCA Pickleball Center at Downingtown 

*Note that your “indoor and outdoor” membership types must match. For example, if you have a Family 1 Adult membership for the indoor facility, your outdoor pool access will be a Family 1 Adult membership. If you have another adult to add to your membership for outdoor pool access, your membership must be upgraded to a Family 2 Adult membership by 3/31/24 for everyone to be eligible to use the outdoor pool at no additional cost.

Ineligible Membership Types include (regardless of join date):

• Youth memberships, including 7th grade initiative memberships
• Short Term memberships
• OLY-Only memberships
• Virtual memberships or those that are part of YGBW’s Employee/Company Wellness Program
• Any memberships that have been on hold for any period of time after April 1, 2024
• Those accessing YGBW using Nationwide Membership
• Those accessing YGBW on a Try The Y pass
   

For those who join YGBW on April 1, 2024 or later: 
If you join YGBW on or after April 1, 2024 with an eligible membership type (see above for eligible membership types), the following will be charged to access the outdoor pools:

• $99 joiner fee
• YGBW membership fee (monthly or annual)
• Outdoor pool fee (based on your membership type):
  • Young Adult, Adult, Senior: $249 for the season
  • Family 1-Adult, Family 2-Adult, Senior Two-Person, Two-Person: $449 for the season
  • Family 3-4 Adult: $499 for the season

Eligible members may access all open outdoor pools across all branches of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine. Please be aware that youth 16 and under must have a parent or guardian present to enter the outdoor pool area, regardless of membership type. While plans are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, outdoor pools will open at the following YGBW branches:

• Brandywine YMCA
• Jennersville YMCA
• Kennett Area YMCA
• Upper Main Line YMCA
• West Chester Area YMCA 

The Kennett borough leases the outdoor pool to the Kennett Area YMCA. As such, there are two options available to those who wish to use the outdoor pool at the Kennett Area YMCA: 

1. YGBW Members
   For anyone who joins YGBW with an eligible membership type by 3/31/24, outdoor pool access at all YGBW branches, including the Kennett Area YMCA, is included in membership, at no additional cost.
    
2. Kennett Borough or Township Residents
   Any resident of Kennett borough or Kennett township who is not a YGBW member and wishes to use the Kennett Area YMCA outdoor pool can do so by purchasing a Kennett Area YMCA Community Pool Membership to the Kennett Area YMCA. Access is granted only to the Kennett Area YMCA’s outdoor pool.

The cost is:

• Individual Kennett Pool Membership - $175
• Family 1-2 Kennett Pool Membership - $275
• Family 3-4 Kennett Pool Membership  - $335

Several options, one of which is to reopen the outdoor pool following needed repairs, are being researched for the area where the Lionville Community YMCA pool is located. Unfortunately, we do not anticipate having enough time to complete our due diligence and make a final determination on how the space will be used, as well as undertaking needed construction or repairs prior to the summer of 2024. We encourage Lionville members to use the outdoor pools located at other YGBW branches and remain positive about the possible enhancements coming as we complete needed research. We will share an update as soon as we can!

You’ll be able to upgrade your membership and add additional people. However, for them to access the Outdoor Pool they will need to pay the individual membership cost for the Outdoor Pool. For example, let’s say you began a Family 1 Adult membership on 4/1. On 6/1, another relative such as a parent comes to stay with you for the summer. For your parent to have access to the outdoor pool, one of the following needs to happen:

• You upgrade your Family 1 Adult membership to a Family 2 Adult membership and add them to your membership. Additionally, your parent is charged the cost of the outdoor pool membership
• The individual coming to stay with you starts their own individual membership and also pays for the individual outdoor pool membership.
   

OLY-Only memberships are already discounted and provide access to the Oscar Lasko YMCA only. However, OLY-Only members may pay the outdoor pool fee if they wish to use the outdoor pools at all YGBW locations or they can upgrade to any eligible YGBW membership type by April 1, 2024, to have the outdoor pools included in the cost of their membership.

Youth memberships are not included due to the required age limits for youth to be at the pool unaccompanied. We encourage parents/guardians of youth with Youth memberships to consider upgrading to any eligible YGBW family membership by April 1, 2024, to enjoy the outdoor pools together this summer.

Short Term memberships are not included due to the shortened length of the membership

If you are a Silver Sneakers member and have joined YGBW by April 1, 2024, the outdoor pools are included in your membership. Those joining YGBW on April 2, 2024 or later, will need to pay the outdoor pool fee to access the pools.

Yes, those with a Silver & Fit membership who are members as of April 1, 2024 will have access to the outdoor pools at all locations at no cost. Those joining on or after April 2, 2024 will need to pay the outdoor pool fees to access the pools.

If you are a Renew Active or One Pass member and you have joined YGBW by April 1, 2024, the outdoor pools are included in your membership. Those joining YGBW on April 2, 2024 or later, will need to pay the outdoor pool fee to access the pools.

If you have a Health Plan Partners membership, are 18 or older and have joined YGBW by April 1, 2024, the outdoor pools are included in your membership. Those joining YGBW on April 2, 2024 or later, will need to pay the outdoor pool fee to access the pools. If you have an HPP membership and are under 18, the guidelines above apply to you so long as an adult is joining with you.

No. You must consistently maintain an active membership without interruption from April 1, 2024, through the outdoor pool season to be eligible to have the outdoor pool included in your membership at no additional cost. If your membership was on hold after April 1, 2024, and you want to use the outdoor pools, you will need to reactivate your membership and pay the outdoor pool fee to access the outdoor pools. 

Absolutely! All YGBW staff members have the outdoor pools included in their membership at no additional cost. Join our team today! The outdoor pool membership is a benefit of employment for active YGBW employees. If your employment with YGBW ends, your outdoor pool membership will be canceled on the last day of your employment with YGBW.

You must be an active member and maintain an eligible membership at the YMCA of Greater Brandywine to purchase an outdoor pool membership. The outdoor pools are included at no additional cost for those who joined YGBW with an eligible membership type prior to April 1, 2024, and consistently maintain their membership. If you join or restart your membership on or after April 2, 2024, you will need to pay for the outdoor pools in addition to your monthly YGBW membership fees. 

Because the outdoor pool is included in the cost of a YGBW membership so long as the membership was started by April 1, 2024, early bird pricing is not available on outdoor pool fees.

If you are purchasing an outdoor pool membership because you were not a YGBW member prior to April 1, 2024, financial assistance may be available. Note that the primary member for the outdoor pool must be the same primary member as is on the indoor membership.

Please visit or call the Welcome Desk in your local YGBW branch for details. 

Payment plans are not available for outdoor pool memberships this year. Those purchasing outdoor pool memberships will be doing so in April and May, when the pool opens so there is not enough time to create a payment plan.

Brandywine YMCA
Jennersville YMCA
Kennett Area YMCA
Upper Main Line YMCA
West Chester Area YMCA

Unless otherwise noted*, the outdoor pool season runs from the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 27) until Labor Day (Sept 2). This is subject to change and we may need to close the outdoor pools due to inclement weather including rain and/or cooler-than-normal temperatures. Detailed schedules will be posted on our website closer to when the pools open.

*The 50M pool at the Upper Main Line YMCA officially opens on Saturday, May 4 and closes on Sunday, October 6. Weather permitting, we plan to do a soft opening of the pool from Monday, April 15 through Friday, May 3. During this time, two lanes will be available to members on weekdays from 3:30-7:00 p.m. 

• Slides will be available at all branches. The pirate ship will be available at the West Chester Area YMCA.
• Chairs will be available at all branches. We encourage you to consider bringing your own chairs when visiting any of our pools in case all chairs are in use. 
• Restrooms & Showers
  • Outdoor bathhouses are available at the Brandywine YMCA, Jennersville YMCA, Kennett Area YMCA and West Chester Area YMCA.
  • Portable toilets are available at the Upper Main Line YMCA. Indoor locker rooms, showers and restrooms are also available for members.

• Day passes (meaning those who come to the pool without a YGBW member) are only available at the Kennett Area YMCA Community Pool. The cost is $10 per person for anyone ages 2 and up and may be purchased at the Kennett Area YMCA Welcome Desk.
• Guest passes (members who bring a guest with them) are not available for the Upper Main Line YMCA's 50M pool due to limited space.
• Guest passes are available for YGBW Members so long as space permits:
  • West Chester Area YMCA Waterpark: $25 per guest per day for those over two years of age. 
  • Brandywine, Jennersville, Upper Main Line Borst Pool, and Kennett Area: $10 per guest per day for those over two years of age.
• Members must be aged 18 or older to bring a guest to the outdoor pool.
• Guests may visit the outdoor pools three times during the outdoor pool season using a guest pass. After accessing the pool via a guest pass three times during the outdoor pool season, individuals must buy a YGBW and outdoor pool membership to continue accessing the outdoor pools.

Some YGBW outdoor pools will have lap swimming available. Check our online schedule, which will be posted closer to the start of the season, for availability. When lap swimming is available, swimmers ages 12 and over are permitted to use the lap lanes. Special age exceptions may be made at the discretion of the branch. Any swimmers 15 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian, unless on a YGBW swim team during a swim team practice. NOTE: All swimmers aged 14 and under must be swim band tested using our Test – Mark – Protect system, wear their designated band at all times when in the outdoor pool area and be a green band if lap swimming.

At somewhat regular times throughout the spring, summer and early fall, the pool will be closed to members for swim team practices, meets and other activities. You can always check our online schedule to see what is available. 

No, lane reservations are not required. However, to ensure everyone’s safety, those 14 and under must take an additional swim band test using our Test – Mark – Protect system, testing at the green band level to use the 50M pool.