Under the plan, three pools would remain open in each of the city's 10 councilmanic districts. Nutter said recreation officials would consult with City Council members to determine which pools stayed open.
"If we raise $600,000 . . . 30 pools would be able to open for three days a week. If we raise $1.2 million . . . we can keep 30 pools open for six days a week," Nutter told reporters.
Donation levels begin at a minimum of $10. Those interested in helping may go to www.phillysummerfund.org to donate, or call 215-665-2542.
Nutter said the extended goal is to raise $3.6 million by March 6, 2011, which would allow at least 30 city pools to remain open six days a week through the summer of 2011.
So far, close to $170,000 has been donated from TD Bank, Tasty Baking Co., Caplin Family Charities, United Concordia and AmeriChoice.
The program is the third public-private effort announced by the Nutter administration since he began trimming the budget to accommodate a $180 million deficit.
In November, Nutter and Ed Snider, chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, said the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation would take over operation and programming at three rinks that officials said were targeted for possible closing.
In December, Nutter announced that five of the city's 11 library branches that had scheduled to close permanently had been put on a track to be taken over by foundations, individuals, companies, and community development corporations.
Contact staff writer Dwight Ott at 215-854-2797 or dott@phillynews.com.
