Community members in white ringer tees with the words “Save Historic Legion Pool” and kids in costume filled the streets of the historic Boulevard neighborhood on Sunday.
The shirts addressed the “Save Legion Pool” initiative to protect the pool on the University of Georgia’s campus and bring attention to the demolition plan. One band, Dragana, a traditional Balkan a cappella group, directed attention to the effort during their set on the porch of 554 Boulevard as they pushed attendees to grab flyers about the movement.
“Sign a petition and help fight to save Legion Pool,” homeowner Jon Jefferson said in between the songs.
The university announced in September plans to redevelop the area to create a more “functional and welcoming space for students,” according to UGA Today. Plans include removing the pool, adding more parking and creating a bigger green space. UGA cited cost of maintenance and sustainability as reasons for renovation.
The pool, constructed back in the 1930s, serves Athens residents and students, according to the Friends of Legion Pool website.
The 2025 Historic Athens Porchfest observed 250-plus musicians performing in seven different neighborhoods. Genres ranged from traditional indie pop to New Orleans jazz. Boulevard hosted over 60 acts, and many porches hosted multiple performers throughout the afternoon.
Historic Athens collaborates yearly with Athentic Brewing Co. to create a beer that displays the event theme. This year’s beer is the Lost Places Lager, which aims to bring awareness to the city’s endangered structures and Athens Places in Peril, an effort toward preservation of historic sites. The packaging on the beer features different “lost” structures.
People and species of all ages spread out on the streets of Dubose Avenue in Boulevard. Children blew bubbles in the lawn while groups performed, couples embraced while listening to traditional jazz and dogs in Halloween costumes barked along with audience applause.
Lauren Gregg and Rob Derrick, band members of the indie pop group Bugs Eat Books, said Porchfest brings a good community to watch local music and serves as an easy way to get friends to see them play. The group performed on fellow band member Tom Vincent’s porch on 361 Dubose Ave.
Derrick’s daughter sold apple cider on the driveway, and his son sat on the porch watching the band’s monitor levels.
“It’s fun to, like, play for them,” Derrick said. “You see a kid in the crowd and it makes you so happy.”
Meghan Pascual is a journalism major in Reporting I in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
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