A neighborhood pool is usually something that is found in an area that is designated for community use like at a park or a community center. Usually when someone has a swimming pool in their backyard it isn’t open to the entire neighborhood. There is one exception.

After Keith Davison’s wife, Evy, passed away, his home felt empty, and he felt lonely. The couple had been married for 66 years when she lost her battle to cancer in 2016.

Eventually, Davison came up with an idea he hoped would bring life and laughter back to his home. The retired judge decided to put a swimming pool in his backyard. While he didn’t really plan on using the pool himself, he planned to invite all of the kids in the neighborhood to use the pool. He explained to News 10, “I’m not sitting by myself looking at the walls.” He added, “What else would you think of doing where you could have a whole bunch of kids over every afternoon?”

His idea to put in a pool for the neighborhood kids was surprising to the community at first. Many people thought it was a joke and didn’t really believe he would actually put a pool in his backyard. When they saw the construction start for the pool, it was a welcome surprise. The neighborhood does not have another community pool.

The swimming pool takes up a good chunk of Davison’s backyard. It’s 32 feet long and 9 feet deep at the deepest part. There’s even a diving board. Now, as Davidson looks at his backyard filled with happy children, he remarks, “I knew they’d come.”

Watch the video below to learn more about Davison’s story and to see how much fun the neighborhood kids are having using his swimming pool.

If your neighbor put in a pool for the community to use, do you think kids would show up every day? Do you think Davison’s swimming pool idea was a positive way of dealing with grief?