Why a pool?

“When I was a young child I was taught how to swim at one of the hotel swimming pools. One day with my family at the beach, I was caught in a rip current, rapidly being carried into deep water. My mother yelled to me "Ellice, do your doggy paddle" that I learned at my swimming lessons. That kept me afloat until I could be rescued. Today there is no place for kids in our community to learn to swim even though we are surrounded by water. We need a Community Swimming Pool!”

— Ellice

Ocracoke Community Pool Association Inc, a newly formed 501(c3) non-profit whose mission is to build a community pool on Ocracoke.

There are many reasons this mission has become important to us. Living on an island affords frequent occasions to engage with all levels of water activities. It has been over ten years since swimming lessons have been offered to our local children and adults. With our population consisting of many retirees, a pool would provide a place for water therapy, water walking and water aerobics. Lap swimming for our many athletic visitors and locals alike, would be a plus, while giving our students the possibility of swimming for PE and even the development of a swim team. Although Ocracoke is surrounded by water, the ocean and sound are not suitable for swimming lessons or any type of water rehabilitation exercise.

Our Mission

1.    The pool will provide a safe place for swimming lessons for resident children and adults regardless of membership status.

2.    Pool users will purchase memberships to pay operational expenses and upkeep.

3.    The pool will provide a place for water rehabilitative exercise.

4.    Times will be scheduled for water aerobics classes, lap swimming and other activities such as swim team practice.

5.    The pool will be a place where all ages can recreate in a safe and enjoyable space.

6.    Visitors to the island may purchase short term memberships if there are available slots.

7.    Annual members may bring out-of-town guests as long as the sponsoring member is present.

8.    In keeping with our Mission to provide a better quality of life for Ocracoke residents, the operation of the pool will reflect our desire to be a good neighbor.

Core values

  • Knowing how to swim is an important life skill.

  • OCPA will not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, disability or economic status.

  • OCPA will be fiscally responsible.

  • The pool will be supervised by a responsible adult to ensure that all ages can recreate in a safe and enjoyable space.