CHICAGO — For the first time since the pandemic, all Chicago Park District outdoor pools will be open seven days a week, beginning this Saturday. The move marks a milestone in the city’s recovery, though the season will be shorter than usual — pools are scheduled to close by August 17, one day before CPS classes resume.
The return to daily operations follows years of limited access due to COVID-19 restrictions, lifeguard shortages, and lingering fallout from a Park District abuse scandal that shook the city’s recreation system.
Full Reopening Comes With a Catch
The pool season will end mid-August, despite the likelihood of continued extreme heat through the end of summer. In 2024, Chicago experienced multiple 90+ degree days in late August. Still, the Park District opted for a truncated season, citing the fact that most lifeguards are students returning to school by mid-month.
While city officials have not ruled out extending the season to Labor Day, the final decision will depend on how many lifeguards stay on staff.
Read More: ‘Snap’ Curfew Ordinance Could Come To A Vote In Chicago City Council
Why This Matters: Relief Amid Rising Heat
Access to pools is more than recreation. With rising temperatures and intense humidity forecasted by the Illinois State Climatologist, pools offer critical relief, especially in neighborhoods without air conditioning or adequate cooling infrastructure.
“The Park District has a critical role to play in addressing extreme heat,” said Chicago Park District Superintendent Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. “Climate change is real. We’ve seen an increase in the number of triple-digit days.”
City leaders are also using this year’s pool season to reflect on lessons from the 1995 heat wave, which killed more than 700 residents, many of them in underserved areas like the Southwest Side.
Staffing Finally Stabilizes
After multiple years of staffing woes, this summer marks the first year the city has over 660 lifeguards on duty — up from 612 last year. Most of them have committed to 40-hour workweeks, a critical improvement from 2023, when pools operated just five days a week due to a lack of workers.
Applications were reportedly up by more than 50%, according to Park District officials.
Still, the district is recovering from a 2021 sexual misconduct scandal involving lifeguard supervisors, which led to the ouster of former Supt. Mike Kelly and millions in legal settlements.
Who Gets Access, and When?
While pools are open daily, public access still varies by location. A significant portion of weekday hours are blocked off for summer camps, from June 23 through August 1. Lap swimmers also get dedicated time early in the morning or late in the day, depending on the location.
Lap swim memberships cost $25 per month or $42 for three months.
Residents can also enjoy:
-
22 public beaches, already open since Memorial Day
-
27 indoor pools, open year-round
-
Humboldt Park’s inland beach, which also reopens this weekend
In the suburbs, pools in Oak Park, Oak Lawn, Skokie, and Lincolnwood are already operating and expected to stay open through Labor Day.
Families React
Eduardo Herrera, a father of six from Austin, said he was surprised to find the Columbus Park pool still closed earlier this week.
“My kids were excited, and now I have to tell them it’s not open yet,” he said, laughing. “But I’m very excited because my kids love the water. It saves you hundreds of dollars instead of going to the water park.”
Pools officially open on Saturday, offering families a much-needed local option for summer relief — at least for now.
What About Your Neighborhood?
Are your local pools opening seven days a week? Have you faced limited access in past summers? Share your experience with us in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
