SoDu We Know What's Up? Monday, Nov. 9, 2026

South Durham Guides | Southpoint Access

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Southpoint AccessWes Platt

Good evening, neighbors!

Three people in Emma Bartone’s family swim. The 16-year-old told Mayor Leonardo Williams that if lessons get more expensive, all three may have to stop. She’s one of the swimmers writing to the mayor ahead of Tuesday’s Recreation Advisory Commission meeting.

Durham swim families ask city to reconsider pool lane fees

A nearly threefold increase in lane rental rates has community swim teams warning that higher costs could reach parents or threaten their programs.

Southpoint AccessWes Platt

Coaches say they pay $9 an hour to rent a lane at Durham’s city pools. Starting Jan. 1, the city’s fee schedule sets that rate at $25 during operating hours. For a team using three lanes, an hour of practice would jump from $27 to $75. What families pay depends on how much of that increase their teams can absorb.

Stephanie Iraggi of the Sea Dragons says representatives from all three affected teams plan to attend the Nov. 10 meeting.