Around here we just drive to the lake or river. Who wants to swim in a public pool when you could swim in a lake or river with no rules? Better swimming in the lake, bridges and rope swingsbeat diving boards any day, and you can crack open a beer if you're so inclined.
Yeah, if "around here" means what I think it does, three people died recently doing just that because they hadn't learned how to swim properly. And while you can learn to do some basic swimming in a lake or a river, it's a lot easier to teach and learn it in a pool.
But nobody wants to go to public pools, given the option. With a public pool available, those people probably would have done the same thing. Nobody with a choice is going to a public pool.