Summertime, and the swimming is easy

Post updated May 28, 2026.

The City of San Antonio has 24 outdoor pools in its inventory, but only seven are currently open on a limited schedule, thanks to a shortage of lifeguards. The following outdoor pools are now open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and no admission is charged:

• Elmendorf Lake, 3700 W. Commerce (WEST SIDE)
• Fairchild, 1214 E. Crockett (EAST SIDE)
• Heritage, 1423 S. Ellison Drive (NORTHWEST SIDE)
• Kingsborough, 350 Felps (SOUTH SIDE)
• Lady Bird Johnson, 10700 Nacogdoches (NORTHEAST SIDE)
• Spring Time, 6571 Spring Time (NORTHWEST SIDE)
• Woodlawn Lake, 221 Alexander (WEST SIDE)

The Woodlawn Lake Pool also offers lap swimming and aqua fitness from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

The Atanacio Garcia Natatorium, 1430 W. Cesar Chavez on San Antonio’s West Side, is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. On Saturdays, it is open from 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. The indoor pool charges admission: $4 for adults, $3 for seniors (60 and up) and $2 for children (17 and under). Children ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The Natatorium is split into two sections. One side is for recreation, and the other side is for swimming laps.

NEISD’s North East Sports Park Pool, 12001 Wetmore Road on the city’s northeast side, is a bonus site, but they do charge admission.

The Natatorium of Palo Alto College, located on San Antonio’s South Side, is currently being remodeled.

Splish Splash

For the younger set, San Antonio also offers seven Splash Pads open daily from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.:

• Benavides Park, 1500 Saltillo (WEST SIDE)
• Elmendorf Lake Park, 3700 W. Commerce (WEST SIDE)
• Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo (DOWNTOWN)
• Lincoln Park, 2915 E. Commerce (EAST SIDE)
• Martin Luther King Park, 3503 Martin Luther King (SOUTHEAST SIDE)
• Pearsall Park, 5102 Old Pearsall Road (SOUTHWEST SIDE)
• Ward Park, 435 E. Sunshine (EAST SIDE)

No charge for admission.

Classes and swim teams

For those interested in taking water aerobics, lifeguard training and/or swimming lessons, please visit ExploreSA to register. My daughter learned how to swim at San Pedro Springs Pool (pictured above) when she was four years old, and I still have warm memories of those halcyon days. Youth interested in competitive swimming practice four times per week to prepare for three weekend meets. A $10 registration fee includes a t-shirt and instruction. Youth must be able to swim 25 yards without assistance to be on a team.

Stay tuned

Keep an eye on the City of San Antonio’s Parks & Recreation Swimming and Aquatics’ webpage to stay updated. Also, be sure to bring along some spending money. If you’re lucky, one of the vendors from El Paraiso Original Ice Cream & Fruit Bars will be circling the pool with a cart full of goodness!

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!