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How To Apply

Confirm that you live within the membership boundary area. Then complete the application and mail it with a check for $50 made payable to "Donaldson Run Recreation Association" to:

Karen W. Hanneman
DRRA Membership Coordinator
4305 N. 24th St.
Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 276-0787
email: membership@drra.org

Become a DRRA Member

DRRA opened on August 3, 1958 and has grown to a 600 family non-profit membership association. The main pool is 600,000 square feet in a "L" shape configuration with three diving boards. There is also a wading pool for children 5 and under, a bathhouse and snack bar. Donaldson Run is located in the Donaldson Run watershed adjacent to Marcey Park and Potomac Overlook Regional Park. The pool is open from early May to late September.

Donaldson Run offers several instructional and exercise programs for the benefit of its members throughout the summer: 

  • swimming lessons
  • early-bird and evening lap swimming
  • water aerobics and amphibious bootcamp
  • competitive diving and swimming in the Northern Virginia Swimming League

Waiting List

The DRRA by-laws limit the number of voting members to 600 families. Eligible families must join the waiting list by submitting an application and $50 non-refundable fee. Applications are processed in the order they are received. Over the past five years, the turnover has averaged 27 families per year. The waiting period for full voting membership is approximately 7 to 9 years; however, there are provisional membership categories that allow you to use the pool while you remain on the wait list.

Membership Categories

There are two special membership categories designed to allow applicants on the wait list to use the pool with restricted privileges.

  1. Full Summer Membership— In order to accommodate as many families as possible on the wait list, the Board of Directors may grant summer use privileges for a year to members at the top of the wait list. Full Summer membership entitles the applicant and his/her family to use DRRA facilities during a summer season in the same manner and under the same rules applying to members, except that no membership rights of any kind are conferred by the granting of Full Summer membership. At the election of the Board, approximately 140-145 families are invited to swim for the entire summer as Full Summer members. The waiting period for Full Summer membership is approximately 4 to 5 years. If you reject an offer to swim as a Full Summer member you must pay a holding or inactive fee if you don’t want to be dropped from the waitlist.
  2. August/September Membership— Beginning on August 1st through the end of the season entitles the applicant and his/her family to the same benefits and restrictions as Full Summer membership. If you refuse the invitation as for an August/September membership to swim for a season, your slot on the wait list is not affected and you will be invited to swim the next year if possible.

Membership Cost

The full (voting) membership initiation fees are $1,700 payable when notified by the Membership Coordinator that Board of Directors has approved your application. The initiation fee consists of an initial capital contribution ($1,500) and processing fee ($200). The capital contribution is refundable if you resign from the Association.

Each year every membership of our 600 members pays a membership fee assessed according of fixed costs of owning the pool. This fee is irrelevant to the summer opening of the pool. Currently the membership fee is $210. A summer usage fee for using the pool during the swim season is based on family size. These dues are reviewed each year by the Board of Directors and presented to the membership as part of the proposed budget at the Annual Meeting.

For example during the 2010 season:

  • The Active member due for a family of four is $545 which includes the $210 membership fee and a $335 summer usage fee for 4 people.
  • The Full Summer membership dues for a family of 4 is $765.
  • The August/Sept membership dues for a family of 4 to swim during August and September is $360

If you refuse the invitation to become a voting member when you reach the top of the waitlist, you will forfeit your place on the wait list and must reapply. There are no special privileges for applicants reapplying.

Gain Access by Volunteering

By participating in the DRRA volunteer workdays each spring and throughout the season, Active, Full Summer and August/September members will receive pool guest passes good throughout the season. Earn four passes for each hour of work per person, as long as there is work to be done. Minimum age for earning credit is 12, although younger children are welcome to attend. These passes can be used by August/September families during the months of May, June, and July (in addition to August and September). Announcements are posted on the website.