Kathy Atwater - On Hargraves Center and the A.D. Clark Pool
Interviewed by Kathryn Wall on March 5, 2026
"You can’t have Hargraves without A.D. Clark Pool. And you can’t have A.D. Clark Pool without Hargraves. They’re just meshed together because it’s just a perfect match.
- Kathy Atwater
Kathy Atwater recounts her childhood visiting the Hargraves Community Center and the Adolphus D. Clark pool. Hargraves is a source of many fond memories for Ms. Kathy, where she went for kindergarten, first grade, and summer camp. She describes how Hargraves was first funded, built, and run by people who lived in the Northside neighborhood. She explains how the town government taking charge has led to improved facilities and more overall safety, but community members were not involved in important decisions regarding how the space should be used. Hargraves has served as the largest community center in Chapel Hill, and as she got older Ms. Kathy would attend monthly meetings to learn about local goings-on and any disputes. She explains how important the A.D. Clark Pool was for the kids growing up as the only public outdoor pool. Like Hargraves, the A.D. Clark pool was made possible by community members giving their funds, time, and work. During the yearly pool parties, hosted by the Jackson Center and Hargraves Center, people share stories of their time spent at the A.D. Pool and Hargraves. Atwater concludes by hoping that there can be more opportunities to share history, so people can learn how Hargraves and the pool were made possible by community members working together and supporting each other.
