Gandy Pool opens 2026 Season
SCDNR officers gave water safety training to adults and children alike at the Gandy Pool’s opening on Saturday, June 13. PHOTO BY STEPHAN DREW
By Stephan Drew, Editor
Gandy Pool at 115 Gary Street launched its 2026 summer season Saturday, June 13, with a community swimming safety event held in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and Families Engagement Programs Inc., which has managed the facility for the City of Darlington since signing a contract last year.
Children and adults turned out as SCDNR officers and law enforcement volunteers — some traveling from as far as Greenville — served as lifeguards and gave hands-on swim instruction using the same methods used to train their own officers. Darlington City Councilmembers Shelia Baccus and Elaine Reed attended to thank participants and volunteers.
The event marks the second year of the SCDNR–Families Engagement partnership aimed at teaching poolgoers basic swimming skills.
SCDNR Director Tom Mulliken pointed to the stakes behind the effort. “Studies have shown that African-Americans are drowning at a rate of 7.5 to one,” he said. “We are dedicating a lot of resources over the next few years to break these cycles and address that inequity.”
Tom Buchanan of SCDNR said instruction starts with basic comfort in the water before progressing to strokes and more advanced skills as children feel ready.
Lt. Col. Matt McCaskill, a former SCDNR dive team member, said the program’s core mission is safety. “So many times, we’ve gone out on missions where, if people had just basic swimming skills, they might have been saved,” he said, citing the agency’s experienced search and rescue team.
Gandy Pool, which reopened last year after repairs, remains a key recreational resource for Darlington. Saturday’s event reflected an ongoing push by SCDNR and local partners to close gaps in water safety education for residents, particularly children.