Philly’s public pools are back! Here’s the opening schedule
Where to swim for free and beat the summer heat.
The pool at Samuel Recreation Center is set to open on Friday, June 21.
Sydney Schaefer / Billy Penn
Updated June 27
Happy summer, Philadelphia. The official start of the season brings with it access to city public pools.
Run by the Department of Parks and Recreation, the city’s 60-plus public pools will open to the public at staggered dates. Things kick off on June 17 with the long-awaited reopening of Bridesburg’s pool — which was closed last year for renovations — and they’ll continue with rolling launches for the next few weeks. Each pool has its own schedule, with different days and times for open swim, lessons and team activities.
With just a few days to spare until the seasonal grand opening, Parks & Rec has officially released the schedule — which will open up almost half of Philly’s watering holes.
They’ll be welcoming swimmers soon. And this year, there’s no question: they’ll be open to all genders, all the time. (It took until 2018 for the city to fully eliminate an antiquated policy that set aside certain days for boys and others for girls.)
But some pools won’t open this season at all. Currently under construction, Fishtown’s Swimmo (aka Lederer pool) will not welcome neighbors in 2019 — and neither will Sayre Morris in Cobbs Creek.
Check the map to view the first round of openings, and stay tuned for more info about the remaining pools.
Monday, June 17
- Bridesburg Recreation Center (4625 Richmond St., 19137)
Tuesday, June 18
- Lee Cultural Center (4328 Haverford Ave., 19104)
- O’Connor Pool (2601 South St., 19146)
Wednesday, June 19
- Cione Playground (2600 E. Aramingo Ave., 19125)
- Feltonville Recreation Center (4726-4700 Ella St, 19120)
- Kelly Pool (4231 Landsdowne Dr., 19131)
- Lawncrest Recreation Center (6000 Rising Sun Ave., 19111)
- Max Myers Playground (1601 Hellerman St., 19149)
- Sacks Playground (400 Washington Ave., 19147)
Thursday, June 20
- Christy Recreation Center (728 S. 55th St., 19143)
- Fox Chase Recreation Center (7901 Ridgeway St., 19111)
- Francisville Playground (1737 Francis St., 19130)
- Mander Playground (2140 N. 33rd St., 19121)
- Northern Liberties Recreation Center (321 Fairmount Ave., 19123)
- Pleasant Playground (6757 Chew Ave., 19119)
- Vogt Recreation Center (4131 Unruh Ave., 19135)
Friday, June 21
- East Poplar Playground (820 N. 8th St., 19123)
- Ridgway Pool (1301 Carpenter St., 19147)
- Samuel Recreation Center (3539 Gaul St., 19134)
- Ziehler Playground (200 E. Olney Ave., 19120)
Saturday, June 22
- American Legion Playground (6201 Torresdale Ave., 19135)
- Cobbs Creek Recreation Center (280 Cobbs Creek Pkwy., 19139)
- Cohocksink Recreation Center (2901 Cedar St., 19134)
- Dendy Playground (1501 N. 10th St., 19122)
- Lackman Playground (1101 Bartlett St., 19115)
- Mitchell Playground (3700 Whitehall Ln., 19114)
- Scanlon Playground (1099 E. Tioga St., 19134)
Monday, June 24
- Baker Playground (5433 Landsdowne Ave., 19131)
- Carousel House Recreation Center (4300 Avenue of the Republic, 19131)
- Gathers Recreation Center (2501 Diamond St., 19121)
- Hillside Recreation Center (201 Fountain St., 19127)
- Lincoln Indoor Pool (3201 Ryan Ave., 19136)
- McVeigh Recreation Center (400 E. Ontario St., 19134)
- Murphy Recreation Center (300 W. Shunk St., 19148)
- Pickett School Indoor Pool (5700 Wayne Ave., 19144)
- Schmidt Playground (113 W. Ontario St., 19140)
Tuesday, June 25
- Awbury Playground (6101 Ardleigh St., 19138)
- Cherashore Playground (851 W. Olney Ave., 19120)
- Chew Playground (1800 Washington Ave., 19146)
- Cohocksink Recreation Center (2901 Cedar St., 19134)
- Heitzman Recreation Center (2136 Castor Ave., 19134)
- Kingsessing Recreation Center (4901 Kingsessing Ave., 19143)
- Morris Estate Cultural Center (1610 W. Chelten Ave., 19126)
Wednesday, June 26
- 39th & Olive Playground (700 N. 39th St., 19104)
- Anderson Recreation Center (740 S. 17th St., 19146)
- Barry Playground (1800 Johnston St., 19145)
- Houseman Recreation Center (5091 Summerdale Ave., 19124)
- Jacobs Playground (4500 Linden Ave., 19114)
- Jardel Recreation Center (1400 Cottman Ave., 19111)
- Lonnie Young Recreation Center (1100 E. Chelten Ave., 19138)
- Mill Creek Playground (743 N. 48th St., 19139)
Thursday, June 27
- Athletic Recreation Center (1400 N. 26th St., 19121)
- Kendrick Recreation Center (5822 Ridge Ave., 19128)
- Simpson Recreation Center (1010 Arrott St., 19124)
- Tustin Playground (5901 W. Columbia Ave., 19151)
Friday, June 28
- 12th & Cambria Playground (2901 N. 12th St., 19133)
- Belfield Recreation Center (2109 W. Chew Ave., 19138)
- C.B. Moore Recreation Center (2551 N. 22nd St., 19132)
- Ford Recreation Center (609 Snyder Ave., 19148)
- Hunting Park Recreation Center (900 Hunting Park Ave., 19140)
- Waterloo Playground (2501 Waterloo St., 19133)
Saturday, June 29
- Stinger Square (1400 S. 32nd St., 19146) — but Parks & Rec says this date is subject to change due to ongoing repairs
Monday, July 1
- Amos Playground (1817 N. 16th St., 19121)
- J. Finnegan Playground (6801 Grovers Ave., 19142)
- M.L. King Recreation Center (2101 Cecil B. Moore Ave., 19121)
- Penrose Playground (1101 W. Susquehanna Rd., 19122)
- Piccoli Playground (1501 E. Bristol Ave., 19124)
Tuesday, July 2
- Cruz Playground (1431 6th St., 19122)
- F.J. Myers Recreation Center (5800 Chester Ave., 19143)
- Hancock Playground (1401 N. Hancock St., 19122)
- Shepard Recreation Center (5700 Haverford Ave., 19131)
- Shuler Playground (3000 N. 27th St., 19132)
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