You don’t have to melt away this summer just because you don’t have a private pool in the backyard. You don’t have to drive hours away to beat the heat at the nearest water park either. These local public pools are highly rated, clean, renovated and ready to help you cool off this year.
West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center
Gwinnett County swimmers are in for at the West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center, which is sporting some renovations.
The aquatic center has a little bit of everything, with an outdoor leisure play pool, a separate instructional pool, an indoor competition pool, two giant waterslides, a lazy river, bubble bench, vortex, spray bar and water play structures.
Hours: The outside leisure play pool will be open 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. seven days a week. The instructional pool will be open noon-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. on Sundays. The indoor lap pool will be open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Fridays and noon-6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Price: Residents get into the outdoor leisure play pool for $2.75 while non-residents pay $5.50. Valid Memorial Day through Labor Day, customers can also purchase seasonal “funcards” for discounted admissions. The cards range from $79.50 to $545.90 for individual residents to a family of six non-residents. Annual versions of the card range from $152.64 to $1,030.
Location: 4488 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross
Swim lessons: Call 678-407-8801 to apply.
The aquatic center, which houses both indoor and outdoor pools, passed its most recent health inspections with no violations.
Murphey Candler Pool
DeKalb County swimmers should head on down to Murphey Candler Park in Brookhaven. The park pool’s “Doggy Dip Day” event is a wonderful way for pet owners to help their canine companions cools off. The park also occasionally offers dine-in movie nights so patrons can relax in one of its pools while watching a flick.
Hours: Noon-6 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays.
Price: Ages 3-17 get in for $3, while ages 18-49 pay $5 and people 55 and up pay $1. Groups of 20 or more can get in for $2 per person, and season passes range from $60 for seniors to $250 for a family of four.
Location: 1551 West Nancy Creek Drive, Brookhaven
Swim lessons: None.
The Murphey Candler Pool scored a 90 on its May 2021 health inspection.
Piedmont Park Aquatic Center
Fulton County’s Piedmont Park Aquatic Center is back in action with new programs for swimmers to enjoy, including swim-in movies and the Sweat and Splash fitness class. To get the most out of the experience, however, you will want to grab a Pool Pass.
Pool Passes, which are limited in number, offer patrons access to the pool during normal and extended hours.
“When summer heats up in Atlanta, head to Piedmont Park to cool off,” a Piedmont Park official told the AJC. “With four lap lanes, concessions, pool level locker rooms and showers — in-the-know residents have spent years swimming at the Aquatic Center to beat the heat. Whether you want a lazy day to read by the pool or a refreshing dip after a nice walk around the park, Piedmont Park has it all.”
Hours: For general admission, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For Pool Pass holders, the facility’s hours are extended from 5-8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 5-7 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m.-noon and 5-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Price: $5, and ages 2 and younger get in for free. Pool Passes range from $132 for seniors to $415 for a family of five or more.
Location: 1320 Monroe Drive, Atlanta
Swim lessons: Lessons are pending for 2022. For more information, visit piedmontpark.org.
Piedmont Park scored a perfect 100 for its pool, interactive fountain and spray pool health inspections in May 2022.
Seven Springs Water Park
Cobb County’s Seven Springs Water Park has it all: two water slides, a lazy river, splash pad and an outdoor pool. For beating the heat, there may be no place better.
Hours: Noon-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. seven days a week.
Price: Residents ages 3-17 pay $4, adults pay $6 and people 55 and up pay $3. Non-resident children pay $6, adults pay $9 and 55+ pay $4.50. Quarterly passes are available and range from $60.28 for children to $212 for families of four.
Location: 3820 Macedonia Road, Powder Springs
Swim lessons: None.
The Seven Springs Water Park scored a perfect 100 in July 2021 on its health inspection.
Wills Park Pool
From Teen Only FUN Night to YMCA swim clinics, North Fulton’s Wills Park Pool has something for everyone. The facility features a leisure pool, interactive play stations, a water slide and a 10-lane competition pool.
Hours: The leisurely pool is open exclusively to residents on Mondays and operates from noon-5 p.m. The pool is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; noon-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays and noon -6 p.m. Sundays. On July 4 and Sept. 5, the pool will be open noon-7 p.m. Beginning Aug. 8, the pool will only be open on weekends until Sept. 5.
Price: Alpharetta residents pay $5, and non-residents pay $8. Ages 3 and younger get in for free. Residents 55 years old or older get in for $1, while non-resident 55 years and older pay $2. Pool Passes range from $90 for a single resident to $300 for a non-resident family of four.
Location: 1815 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta
Swim lessons: None.
Wills Park earned a perfect score on the health inspection for its competition pool, leisure pool and splash pool.
Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center
Clayton County swimmers can visit the Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center for something special, a warm water hydro-therapy pool. The center also features a separate lap pool for exercise and an open pool area for recreation.
“We feature the area’s only warm water hydro-therapy pool,” Clayton County Parks and Recreation said on its website. “This pool is perfect for people with bone or joint problems and others looking for no impact exercise. We offer an assortment of water aerobics classes of varying intensity including H2O Works, Aqua Fusion, Arthritis Aerobics and our ever popular Aqua Boot Camp.”
Hours: Due to scheduling constraints, Clayton County Parks and Recreation suggests calling ahead (678-479-5133) for the most up to date information regarding swim availability before visiting.
Price: Residents ages 18-54 pay $3, residents age 55 or older and residents age 17 or younger pay $2 for admission. Non-resident adults pay $5, non-resident seniors and non-resident children pay $3. Passes range from $5 for senior residents to $60 for adult non-residents and range from yearly to monthly.
Location: 9045 Tara Boulevard, Jonesboro
Swim lessons: Visit claytonparks.com to apply.
The Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center earned a perfect 100 on its health inspection for its gold medalist pool in May 2021. The center’s warm up pool earned a 96 in Jan. 2022, and the lap pool earned a 98 in Feb. 2022.
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