Keep Cool with City’s Outdoor Pools and Splashpads

The Parks & Recreation Department (PRD) is gearing up to open the City’s outdoor pools and splashpads this month. While outdoor pools will be open for Memorial Day, there will be slight change this season due to the Albuquerque Public School (APS) schedule for the 2023-2024 school year.

Eisenhower, Sierra Vista, and West Mesa outdoor pools will open first, on Saturday, May 11, 2024. These pools will be open to the general public only on weekends during May for recreational swim. The pools are also used for APS physical education classes during May.

All of the City’s outdoor pools will have a soft opening for the summer season on Saturday, May 25, for the three-day Memorial Day weekend. Then, all of the City’s outdoor pools will close on Tuesday, May 28, through Friday, May 31, for staff training. This closure is due to the fact that the APS school year ends on May 31 and a large percentage of lifeguards are high school students who will not be available for comprehensive training until the week of May 28. The pools will reopen for regular summers hours on Saturday, June 1.

“City pools and splashpads are the perfect place for families to have fun and cool off this summer,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “From rec swim to lessons, from swim team to water polo, we’re stepping up with lots of ways to make a splash in Albuquerque.”

The North Domingo Baca and Civic Plaza splashpads are already open. The Cesar Chavez, Manzano Mesa, and the new West Gate splashpad will be opening on Monday, June 17. The Wells Park splashpad will remain closed while the park is under construction. The Alamosa splashpad is currently under construction and will open later this year.

Summer swim passes are available for advance purchase at play.cabq.gov or in-person at any of the City’s swimming pools. Due to the popularity of Eisenhower Pool, Sierra Vista Pool, and West Mesa Aquatic Center, these facilities sell wristbands for open recreational swim times. Wristbands can be purchased in-person the day of or reserved online up to two days in advance. Family swim passes are also available.

Special deals at City pools this summer include:

• Kids 17 and under swim for free on Sundays
• Children under the age of 2 swim for free
• $1 swim on Friday nights at select pools

Swimming lesson registration will be opening for June classes at noon on Saturday, May 4. For those interested in July swimming lessons, class registration will be opening at noon on Saturday, June 15. PRD will also be participating in the World’s Largest Swim Lesson on June 20, offering free swimming lessons to both adults and children over the course of 3 hours.

“Everyone should learn to swim for safety and water fun,” said PRD Director Dave Simon. “One month of swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning by 88%, so I urge adults to get kids enrolled in our program.”

To learn more about swimming lessons, click here.