The summer months are nearly here, and so is the heat. For many Dallasites, taking a dip in the nearest swimming hole is the best respite from the oppressive temperatures. But if you don’t have a pool in your backyard, you might be looking for nearby spots for your littles to splash around in this summer. Fortunately, we’re surrounded by a number of public pools in and around Dallas. We’ve gathered here a few of our favorite community pools that are kid-friendly and ready for you to make a splash.
RELATED: Guide to Water Parks in Dallas-Fort Worth
Outdoor Pools
The Fraternal Order of Eagles Pool, Dallas
This nonprofit-owned pool south of White Rock Lake is a popular spot for old-fashioned family fun. Amenities include Olympic-size main pool, a shallow kiddie pool and, for landlubbers, a pirate ship playground, volleyball courts and horseshoe pits. Bring your own pool floats and toys but leave food and drinks at home—concessions are available to keep swimmers energized (and four bars serve adult beverages for Mom and Dad).
Cost: Weekdays: $10 adults; $5 children 12 and younger. Weekends and holidays: $15 adults; $10 children. Any day: $5 for first responders and military.
Season: This facility and its pool are open year-round. They only charge for pool access during the summer/warm months, which is often through October.
Hours: Open daily noon–9pm, concessions close at 7pm
Location: 8500 Arturo Drive, Dallas
Contact: 214/327-9563; dallasfoe.com
Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Complex, Carrollton
The city of Carrollton’s Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Complex encompasses not one but several newly remodeled pools: a lap pool, an activity pool with a zero-depth entry that you can wade into, and a toddler splash pool with shade, plus a diving well and two water slides. So you can hop from one to another depending on your child’s age or swimming ability. Kids can also ride the current in the lazy river, zoom down a medium-size water slide or stand underneath the dump bucket for a thorough soaking.
Cost: $5 residents on weekdays; $9 nonresidents on weekdays; $6 residents on weekends; $10 nonresidents on weekends. Summer passes available.
Season: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11am–8pm, Friday 11am–6pm, Saturday 10am–6pm, Sunday 1–6pm
Location: 1334 East Rosemeade Parkway, Carrollton
Contact: 972/466-6399; cityofcarrollton.com
Bradfield Pool, Garland
Though the city’s Holford Pool and the Surf and Swim wave pool are closed, you can still enjoy one of Garland’s outdoor pools this summer. Bradfield Pool, behind the park’s Bradfield recreation center, is open daily, including July Fourth for playtime in the water, down the water slide and off the diving boards.
Cost: $3 for everyone taller than 48 inches; $2 for under 48 inches; free for children 2 years and younger
Season: May 27–August 6, 2023
Hours: 1–5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 2–5pm Wednesday; 1–6pm Saturday and Sunday; 1–5pm Independence Day
Location: 1150 Castle Drive, Garland
Contact: 972/205-2774; garlandtx.gov
Vanston Pool and City Lake Aquatic Center, Mesquite
Let kids splash and play at Mesquite’s three public pools. Vanston Pool and the City Lake Aquatic Center boast the most kid-friendly features, from water slides for big kids to wading pools for littles. Both locations have a water slide for kids 48 inches and taller, while play structures situated in zero-depth entry pools offer pint-size slides and interactive features that spray and sprinkle swimmers, including dump buckets, fountains and waterfalls. Note that Town East Pool will be closed this summer for open swim but still offering swim lessons.
Vanston Pool
Cost: $5 day pass for residents; $8 for nonresidents; children under 3 free
Season: Memorial Day weekend through end of July
Hours: Open swim noon–7pm daily
Location: 2913 Oates Drive, Mesquite
Contact: 972/216-6260 admin, 972/329-8323 pool; cityofmesquite.com
Brunhilde Nystrom City Lake Aquatic Center
Cost: $5 day pass for residents; $8 for nonresidents; children under 3 free
Season: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day
Hours: Open swim noon–7pm daily
Location: 200 Parkview Street, Mesquite
Contact: 972/216-6260 admin, 972/329-8321; cityofmesquite.com
Holmes Aquatic Center, University Park
University Park residents relax at the Holmes Aquatic Center, which offers plenty to keep the whole family busy. In the 50-meter pool, there’s a large water slide and high and low diving boards. For the little ones, there’s a separate pool with an aerated fountain and shaded area along with an adjacent zero-depth spray ground. Swim lessons are offered for children ages 3 and older.
Cost: Open only to University Park residents and those who reside within the Highland Park Independent School District. $5 for ages 6 and older. Summer passes available.
Season: Late May (May 27, 2023) through Labor Day
Hours: Family open swim hours are noon–9pm Sundays and 10am–9pm all other days.
Location: 3501 Lovers Lane, University Park
Contact: 214/987-5488; 214/987-5611; uptexas.org
Dallas Aquatics Pools
In addition to the Bahama Beach Waterpark, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department operates small army of neighborhood aquatic centers and outdoor pools. What Dallas’ community pools may lack in amenities they make up for with their affordable admission pricing—specifically, only one dollar. Take a look at the map here to see which of the nine community pools is closest to you and see which programs are offered at each: open swim, swim lessons or even swim team practice.
Cost: $1 admission per person
Season: May 30–August 6, 2023
Hours: Varies by location
Location: Bonnie View, Everglade, Glendale, Grauwyler, Jaycee Zaragoza, Martin Weiss, Pleasant Oaks, Tommie Allen and Walnut Hill
Contact: 214/670-1926; dallasaquatics.org
Indoor Pools
Bachman Indoor Pool, Dallas
Speaking of Dallas Aquatics, its lone indoor pool hosts regular swim lessons for kids and for adults alike. This lap pool, located close to Love Airport, is open to those who live within the city and who have a recreation card.
Cost: Pricing depends on the program you’re partaking in but it’s only $3 for a drop-in open swim. See all the details here.
Season: Year-round
Hours: See the details here.
Location: 2750 Bachman Drive, Dallas
Contact: 214/670-6273; dallasaquatics.org
Farmers Branch Aquatics Center
Depending on what time of year or whether you’re going for swim lessons, you can visit the Frog Pond or the Margaret Young Natatorium. This indoor pool offers aquatic fitness classes, swim classes and open swim times.
But the real draw during the summer is the Frog Pond, the outdoor water wonderland with a shallow activity pool for littles, 30-foot-tall water slides for older kids, and the lazy river and lagoon pool with not-too-deep water for all ages. And here’s one unexpected offering—log rolling. If you see the large, red, high-density foam logs in the pool, feel free to climb on and test your balancing skills.
Cost: $3 residents $5 nonresidents; under 3 free.
Frog Pond hours: Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. See hours details here.
Natatorium hours: Open year-round. See hours details here.
Location: 14032 Heartside Place, Farmers Branch
Contact: 972/919-8720; fbh2o.com
More Aquatic Centers
The Cove at Fretz Park
Hours: During June 4–August 14, 2023, this aquatic center is open for two public swim sessions 12:30–3:30pm and 4–7pm six days a week (closed Wednesdays)
Location: 14778 Hillcrest, Dallas
Contact: 214/670-6464; dallasaquatics.org
Jack Carter Pool
Hours: Noon–6pm Sunday and Monday; noon–8pm Tuesday and Thursday–Saturday; closed Wednesday
Location: 2601 Pleasant Valley Drive, Plano
Contact: 972/208-8081; plano.gov
Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center
Hours: 5am–10pm Monday–Thursday; 5am–9pm Friday; 8am–6pm Saturday; 10am–6pm Sunday
Location: 5801 West Parker Road, Plano
Contact: 972/769-4044; plano.gov
Bad Königshofen Family Aquatic Center
Hours: Noon–7pm Monday; closed Tuesday; 2–9pm Wednesday; noon–7pm Thursday–Saturday; 1–6pm Sunday. Open May 27–September 4, 2023
Location: 2800 West Sublett Road, Arlington at S.J. Stovall Park
Contact: 817/459-5223; arlingtontx.gov
Water Works Park
Hours: 11am–7pm Monday–Saturday; noon–7pm Sunday. Open daily May 27–August 8; then weekends only August 12–September 4, 2023
Location: 2400 Long Road, Denton
Contact: 940/349-8800; dentonwaterworks.com
Top image courtesy of Farmers Branch Aquatics Center
