Pool party. (Trade Talk).

Building a beach and swimming pool in the Ramos neighborhood on Rio de Janeiro's gritty north side could be described as the first step in a beaches-for-the-people program.The 30-million-liter pool has made such a huge splash that the project's architect, Rio Gov. Anthony Garotinho, plans to build two more.

The Ramos pool, which looks more like a manmade lake than a conventional swimming pool, has attracted 50,000 people some weekends, given jobs to 1,400 people from nearby slums and been feted by reporters, filmmakers and even dozens of cariocas who donned bikinis to vie for the title of pool beauty queen.

Populist politician Garotinho brushes off claims the area needs schools and hospitals rather than swimming pools. At the same time, the controversy over gang-related violence in the favelas adjacent to the pool area has died down following an increased police presence.

Beaches and bathing beauties make people happy in Rio and, as such, the pools are guaranteed vote winners. In a year in which he plans to run for president, Garotinho hopes to ride the wave of acclaim all the way to Brasilia.