Phoenix Offers Free Swim Lessons, Extends Pool Season
After COVID-19 forced Phoenix to close public pools last summer, the City Council approved keeping some pools open longer this year.
Since 1993, Phoenix’s public pool season has run from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. But on Wednesday, the council unanimously approved keeping some pools open on weekends through September.
Because teachers and students make up many of the seasonal employees, the Parks Department is trying to ensure adequate staffing levels. Right now, three pools have enough people to stay open through September and three more are labeled pending. They are:
- Encanto — 15th Ave. & Encanto Blvd. (Staff Availability Confirmed)
- Starlight — 78th Ave. & Osborn Road (Staff Availability Confirmed)
- Sunnyslope — 3rd St. & Dunlap Ave. (Staff Availability Confirmed)
- El Prado — 19th Ave. & Alta Vista Road (Pending Confirmation)
- Maryvale — 51st Ave. & Campbell Ave. (Pending Confirmation)
- Paradise Valley — 40th St. & Bell Road (Pending Confirmation)
“It’s been a hard year for youth,” said Councilwoman Betty Guardado who hopes the extended season will become permanent.
Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia requested the Parks Department look into offering shuttles to transport kids from locations where pools are not opened to locations with open pools.
Phoenix public pools that will be open include: Cortez, Deer Valley, Encanto, El Prado, Falcon, Maryvale, Paradise Valley, Pecos, Perry, Starlight, Sunnyslope and University.
The Parks Department website says: “Due to COVID-19 protocols, the format for swim lessons has been modified. Adult lessons, water aerobics, swim and dive teams, the water basketball league, and other special events and aquatics programs will not be offered during summer 2021.”
