How To Tell Neighbors They Cannot Use Your Swimming Pool: Block Talk

Owning a backyard pool can quietly turn you into the neighborhood’s most popular (and taken-for-granted) host, as one Evanston couple discovered after a single friendly gathering snowballed into near-weekly uninvited visits that, in their words, “stole our summer.” Patch readers say the fix is being kind but direct: set clear expectations upfront, require plans to be made in advance, and don’t be afraid to say no firmly and often.