Dive into an LA City Pool Near You
If you, like just about anyone else in Los Angeles this summer, are looking for a way to stay away from LA heat, you may want to consider checking out any one of the many city pools. The City of Los Angeles works alongside the Department of Recreation and Parks to provide public access to the 55 pools within Los Angeles. Of these total 55 pools, Los Angeles provides access to 16 pools year-round, an additional 39 pools available for public use during the summer alone, and a few open water facilities such as Cabrillo Beach and the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center.
While there are plenty of beaches available to those residing in Los Angeles, if you’re really looking to beat the heat, a local, less populated location may be a better option. The entrance fee for each pool is $1 for children (zero to 17 years old), $4 for adults (18 to 49 years old), and $1 for 50+ (50-year-olds and above). The City also makes different pool passes available such as the summer pass which is typically available to youth from the start of the summer to the end for $10, as well as the adult swim lap pass which provides adults with 30 entries to city pools for a fraction of the normal cost, at $88. As mentioned, LA runs a large number of pools; below are some that I enjoy throughout the summer.
Celes King III Pool is located at 5001 Obama Blvd in South Los Angeles and can be found within the Rancho Cienega Recreation Center. Celes King III is a newly renovated indoor pool. This pool is convenient in the summer as it keeps you cool and allows you to avoid the presence of the sun. As hours are scheduled to change going into the summer season, I recommend you call ahead of your visit at 213-847-3406.
LA Swim Stadium, also known as John C Argue Swim Stadium, is located within Exposition Park at 3980 Bill Robertson Ln in South Los Angeles. This pool provides patrons with a variety of activities as the swim stadium can be found hosting swim team competitions, water polo matches, and even Junior Lifeguard competitions. While this is an outdoor pool, it can be nice to visit because of how large the facility is. As hours are scheduled to change going into the summer season, I recommend you call ahead of your visit at (213) 763-0129.
Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Pool, or VNSO, is located in the Valley at 14201 Huston St. within Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Recreation Center. Similarly to the LA Swim Stadium, this pool is frequently used to hold swim and water polo competitions throughout the year and is an outdoor pool. This pool has a fun grass field near the entrance alongside a couple of picnic tables but you may want to bring either a canopy or umbrella if you find yourself at VNSO for more than recreational swimming. As hours are scheduled to change going into the summer season, I recommend you call ahead of your visit at (818) 783-6721.
Roosevelt Pool can be found within the Roosevelt High School campus at 456 S Mathews St. in Boyle Heights. This is another beloved outdoor pool within Los Angeles that also occasionally is the host of several recreational sports teams. Like most LA city pools, lap lanes at Roosevelt are often available for patrons to enjoy but unlike most city pools, an additional feature available at Roosevelt is their jacuzzi. As hours are scheduled to change going into the summer season, I recommend you call ahead of your visit at 213-485-7391.
Ariani Ray is a current junior at Girls Academic Leadership Academy. She is currently the Arts and Entertainment editor for The Echo. Her goal this year...