THE SWIMMING SCOOP
All the details on Summer Swimming at L.A. pools
Los Angeles - With the temperatures rising more and more people are looking for easy and affordable ways to stay COOL. The Department of Recreation and Parks has a solution to your HOT problem, visit one of our 50 pools!
The Department’s Aquatics Division operates 50 swimming pools, 16 year round facilities and 34 seasonal locations. Seasonal locations are open from mid-June through Labor Day. These outdoor facilities offer morning and afternoon public swim sessions and year round pools offer afternoon and evening swim sessions. The seasonal pools are generally open from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. on weekends. Hours of operation vary per facility for year round locations.
In addition, three seasonal locations are offering evening swimming this summer thanks to the Summer Night Lights program. Jackie Tatum/Harvard will be open until 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Glassell and Sepulveda pools will be open until 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
City pools can be found throughout Los Angeles, from Peck Park pool in San Pedro to Hubert Humphrey in Pacoima to Glassell pool in East Los Angeles to Jackie Tatum/Harvard pool in South Los Angeles. L.A. pools are open to all residents and are an inexpensive way to stay cool on a hot summer day.
Swimming is free for children ages 17 or younger, seniors 65 or older and the disabled. There is a $2.50 fee for adults (ages 18-62) but those who have a City Library Card get a reduced rate of $2. Children ages 3-6 must be potty-trained and accompanied by an adult at ALL times. Children under 3 must wear a swim diaper.
For the fourth straight year, the Department is partnering with Kaiser Permanente for Operation Splash. Operation Splash is a program that offers free swim lessons to qualifying children. The program is only offered at certain locations and is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Please call the Aquatics Division for Operation Splash locations.
City pools offer a wide variety of aquatic activities and programs. Lap, recreational and adaptive swimming, water exercise and private, semi-private or group swim lessons are all available. Some pools also have special features that are perfect for young swimmers. Eight Department pools have water slides; Hansen Dam, Hollywood, Hubert Humphrey, Jackie Tatum/Harvard, Northridge, Sepulveda, Stoner and Sun Valley. Splash Pads are also available at seven pools and/or parks; Jackie Tatum/Harvard, Juntos Park, North Hollywood, Panorama, Queen Anne, Saint Andrews and Stoner Park. Splash Pads are ideal for small children, who have not yet mastered the art of swimming. With zero depth standing water and rubber surfacing there is practically no risk of drowning.
Some rules to remember when visiting a City pool:
1. Entrance will be denied to any children under 7-years-old, unless accompanied by an adult on a one-to-one ratio.
2. Absolutely NO pets are allowed inside City pools.
3. The following items are not allowed in the pool or deck area:
Street clothes and shoes
Floating apparatus, glass objects or containers of any kind
Sports or swim equipment and radios or I-pods
4. Smoking, eating or drinking is not allowed in the pool or dressing area.
5. All swimmers must wear proper swim attire. Men must wear swim trunks with a liner and a drawstring. Ladies must wear a bathing suit (one-piece or two-piece).
6. The following attire is NOT permitted in the pool area:
Cut-off, biker, basketball or jean shorts
White t-shirts or shirts of any kind
Bodysuits or leotards
**Failure to follow pool rules and guidelines will result in non-admittance or expulsion from the pool grounds.**
For more information or to find a City pool close to you, please call the Aquatics Division at (323) 906-7953 or visit the Department website at
www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/aquatic.htm.
