Summer is here and so is the heat and dreaded humidity. And, just as the Windy City is about to boil, all 50 Chicago Park District swimming pools are open to the public as of this weekend. This is the first time since 2020 that all of the outdoor pools will be open and operating seven days per week. The city's indoor swimming pools will also be ready to serve their communities, with 27 pools operating six days per week.
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The last five years have been tough on the park district with lifeguard shortages; however, with over 3,000 applicants this year, the city is ready to serve its communities of swimmers.
“We’re thankful to all of the strong swimmers that have joined our aquatics team this summer to help reach our goal of opening all outdoor and indoor pools for the start of the 2025 summer pools season,” said Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa in a news release. “Chicagoans can rely on parks to provide access to a vital resource during the hot summer months, while offering hundreds of lifeguards an important job in public service that equips them with strong work experience and essential lifesaving skills.”
Outdoor swimming pools in the park districts care will be open until the start of the Chicago Public School year in August, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in most locations; indoor swimming pools tend to stay open throughout the year.
While most swimming pools are ADA-compliant, including stairs, pool lifts, and zero-depth entry, some locations may have limited accessibility, so it’s important to check specific pool ADA features ahead of visits. To determine which pools are ADA-accessible, as well as which pools have extra features like water slides, showers, and playgrounds, visit the Chicago Park District’s website, where you can look up specific swimming pools and find out helpful information like locations and hours of operation. Happy swimming and stay cool!