Four people splash around in the pool at Northridge Recreation Center on Thursday, June 5, 2024. Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG
Splash, splash.
High dive, low dive.
Walk across the shallows.
Sounds like the beginning of a Dr. Seuss book, right?
No. We’re talking about a fairly inexpensive way for friends and family to cool off in the clear, refreshing waters of a Los Angeles city pool, especially if predictions of an even hotter summer ahead turn out to be correct.
More than 50 city park pools across the city are open from the beginning of this month through Labor Day weekend, offering a variety of ways to enjoy a dip, swim, take a swimming lesson or just splash around.
“We want people to know about swim lessons, which are $10 per person per session,” said Rose Watson, spokeswoman for the city’s Recreation and Parks Department. “This is a big deal because it’s important for young people to learn how to swim — whether it’s in their own pool at home, their apartment or at the beach. They should be safe in all bodies of water.”
The $10 fee includes 10 swimming lessons, 25 minutes each, over two weeks. Watson also promoted other swimming-related programs, including kayaking, paddleboarding and team sports, from June through August. “For the $10, you get a variety of different swimming programs,” Watson said.
The Woodland Hills Recreation Center pool is ready to welcome summer swimmers on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (Photo by David Crain, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The city’s aquatics department operates 39 seasonal pools, 16 year-round pools, three camp pools and three Los Angeles Unified School District pools.
Currently, seasonal pool hours are Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m., and 1 to 5 p.m. on weekends.
Starting June 17, seasonal pool hours will be extended to 12pm to 2pm and 3pm to 7pm Monday through Friday, and 1pm to 5pm on weekends.
The City operates 11 open water facilities year-round and also offers fishing, paddle boat and small watercraft programs. Pool hours may vary, so it’s best to check with the location of the pool where you want to enjoy a splash.
Sixteen pools are open all year round and offer swimming sessions to the public in the late afternoon and early evening, and some pools offer lap swimming sessions in the morning and midday.
40 summer pools open during the summer. These outdoor facilities offer public swimming sessions in the morning and afternoon.
However, the Costello, Granada Hills, Griffith Park and Rustic Canyon pools will remain closed this summer while undergoing maintenance work.
Check the website ahead of time to find availability and hours at your favorite municipal pool, and search for facilities that have diving boards, wading pools and waterslides.
A list of summer pools can be found here: www.laparks.org/aquatic/summer-pool
A list of year-round pools can be found here: www.laparks.org/aquatic/year-round
Here are some San Fernando Valley pools that are open.
Cleveland High School Pool, 8120 Vanalden Ave., Reseda818-756-9798Mon-Fri: 1pm-8pm, Weekends: 1pm-5pmHansen Dam Aquatic Center, 11798 Foothill Blvd., Lake View Terrace818-899-3779Mon-Fri: 7am-7:30pm, Weekends: 11am-6pmLanark Pool, 21817 Strathern St., Canoga Park818-887-1745Mon-Fri: 3pm-7pm, Weekends: 1pm-5pmNorth Hollywood Pool, 5301 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood818-755-7654Mon-Fri: 3pm-7pm, Weekends: 1pm-5pm 818-996-6834Monday-Friday: 3pm-7pm, Weekends: 1pm-5pmSun Valley Park Pool, 8123 Vineland Ave., Sun Valley818-252-0835Monday-Friday: 3pm-7pm, Weekends: 1pm-5pmSylmar Pool, 13109 Borden Ave., Sylmar818-367-6727Monday-Friday: 3pm-7pmWeekends: 1pm-5pmVan NuysSherman Oaks Pool, 14201 Huston St., Van Nuys, 818-783-6721Monday-Friday: Adult lap swimming, 6am-10am, noon-9pm, recreational swimming, noon-9pmWeekends: Saturday lap swimming, 9am-5pm, Sunday noon-5pm, recreational swimming, Saturday and Sunday noon-5pmWoodland Hills Pool, 5858 Shoup Ave., Woodland Hills, 818-704-1509/1541Monday-Friday: 3pm-7pmWeekends: Adult lap swimming, 6am-10am, noon-9pmWeekends: Saturday lap swimming, 9am-5pm, Sunday noon-5pm, recreational swimming, Saturday and Sunday noon-5pmWoodland Hills Pool, 5858 Shoup Ave., Woodland Hills, 818-704-1509/1541Monday-Friday: 3pm-7pmand weekends: 1pm to 5pm.
City of Los Angeles Pool Access Information (schedules may vary by recreation center):
Rates: $4 for ages 18-49, $1 for ages 50+, 0-17, and disabled persons. Children ages 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult on a 1:1 ratio. Cash only accepted. Children ages 3 and under must wear approved “swim diapers” or plastic pants with elastic around the waist and legs. Men must wear swim trunks with liners and drawstrings. Board shorts are permitted. Women must wear one- or two-piece swimsuits. No cutoffs, bike shorts, basketball shorts, or street shorts. No white t-shirts, white rash guards, or shirts. Swimwear must cover buttocks and no thongs. No bodysuits or leotards. Anyone wishing to use the diving board will be tested for swimming ability. Also, check online for additional rules and information, including junior lifeguard programs, group, private, and semi-private swim lessons, and swim team sports. Swimming brochures are available on each recreation center’s website page. Children ages 3-6 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in the water. Facilities have universal changing rooms or showers. All City swimming facilities are equipped with ADA-accessible pool lifts. Please speak to pool staff for more information.
You can sign up for low- or free-cost group swim lessons with your child at www.swimla.org. For locations, contact the Aquatics Department at 323-906-7953 or online at www.swimla.org. More information: www.laparks.org/aquatics
And let’s not forget the PlayLA program, which the City of Los Angeles explains online is not just fun, but also aims to “remove economic barriers and promote inclusive recreation for all Los Angeles communities.”
In 2028, Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games for the third time. The city hosted the Olympics in 1932 and again a few decades later in 1984. And now, decades later, a new generation of Angelenos will once again host the Olympics in 2028.
Through the PlayLA program, young people of all abilities have access to quality sports offered at their local recreation centres and can get involved in the Olympic movement.
Youth sports clinics range from swimming to baseball to football, while adaptive youth sports clinics include swimming, skateboarding and more.
PlayLA welcomes all youth ages 5-17, and registration costs $10 per person.
For more information, visit https://www.laparks.org/play-la
And for more information on fun activities throughout the summer, check out the Los Angeles Summer 2024 brochure at culture.lacity.gov .