Natural Swimming Ponds Are Going Mainstream
Updated 5-9-24.
In House Beautiful’s top 2024 landscaping trends, we were surprised -and delighted– to see that “Swimming Ponds” made their list.
Swimming ponds, House Beautiful says, are being chosen by people who want to swim but who eschew pools — and all the chemicals. Also known as “natural swimming pools” these ponds bring us back to nature, are beautiful to look at, and contribute to the health of beneficial wildlife.
Will Your Family Enjoy a Natural Swimming Pond?
Most people are pretty certain their family will enjoy using a regular swimming pool. But a swimming pond? Not everyone is so sure.
One way to test the waters so to speak is ask yourself this question: Do we like swimming in lakes, the ocean, and swimming holes? If the answer is yes to any of these, then, you’ll probably love a natural swimming pond.
After all, families swimming in the ocean have probably brushed up against the occasional bit of seaweed and snorkeled to get close up to colorful fish.
So would it surprise you that in recent years, Deck and Patio (already known as pond experts on Long Island) has been asked to create several man-made ponds — designed especially for the clients’ swimming enjoyment?
In fact, here’s a video of people doing just that in a Long Island natural swimming pond created by Deck and Patio:
But what about bacteria?
In an earlier post on Aquascape Inc.’s website entitled Growing Up Around a Pond, the writer focuses on the ’10 most interesting things’ she has learned from having just such a pond:
all bacteria is not bad;
swimming in a pond is more fun than in a pool;
ponds are wondrous at night;
ponds are better than TV or video games.
We would have to agree with her. Snorkeling in a regular swimming pool isn’t all that exciting.
That aside, swimming in a pristine natural pond is very possible and thrilling. Using the right underlayment, liner, Biofalls and skimmers, bog filtration and water plants are all part of creating the perfect experience.
Pond/Playground Oasis in Brooklyn, NY
One great example of a swimming pond was this Deck and Patio project in Brooklyn. The heart of the project is, of course, its eco-friendly pond, which we built initially as a very shallow pond — only 8” deep.
That was deep enough so their young children could swim and play in it. However, we also constructed the pond to “grow” with them. We used boulders that are covered with fabric and gravel which, when they got older, could be removed — exposing a full-sized pond they can stock with koi — offering an entirely different experience for more mature children.
The finished natural playscape is reminiscent of a secret cove on a desert island. It boasts a swimming pond with a beach-style entry, three waterfalls, a rock climbing wall, a pirate-ship-style tree house, rope bridge, swings, exercise rings/bar, and three bubble-rock water features.
This pond is one of two ponds the clients had us create in their yard which overlooks Long Island Sound. Now you may think that our beautiful model is avoiding the ‘ewwww’ factor by using a floating device. But as you’ll see from the next photo below, she’s not bothered at all by healthy pond life. Indeed, this pond is pure and clean — a joy to swim in.
A key factor in a good natural swimming pond is to build it big and deep enough so that you can snorkel as well as have room to swim.
The child in all of us loves natural swim ponds. This photo was published originally by a homeowner who wrote an Aquascape Inc. blog “Growing Up Around a Pond.” She captured her son in the photo encouraging a friend to join him in the pond.
Some ponds, like this one, is intended as a koi pond and not a natural swimming pond. One ways you ensure a pond is sufficiently pristine for swimming is not to overload it with koi or other pond fish. This allows the aquatic plants and natural filtration systems the ability to absorb and “clean” the pond sufficiently for an enjoyable swim.