Making splash at Zoo Lake pool

FUTURE: VOLUNTEER GROUP BAND TOGETHER TO REVIVE ONCE ICONIC COMMUNITY VENUE

- Naziya Davids-Easthorpe

Once a shimmering square of summer joy, the Zoo Lake swimming pool in Johannesburg is set for a revival as residents rally to preserve its history and restore its future.

For generations of Joburg families, the Zoo Lake swimming pool has been far more than a place to cool off on a hot summer's day.

Built in the 1930s with its striking square design, the pool became a backdrop for countless memories — children learning to swim, teenagers playing water polo and families gathering to escape the heat.

But time has taken its toll. Pipes are cracked, changing rooms have aged and years of deferred maintenance have left the pool a shadow of its former self.

Once a sparkling jewel at the heart of Zoo Lake Park, it now stands in urgent need of restoration.