CHICAGO — As Chicago faces its first extreme heat wave of the year, families are flocking to outdoor pools across the city for much-needed relief — and to revive a beloved summer tradition.
The Chicago Park District officially opened its 50 outdoor pools on Saturday, just as temperatures soared to 95°F with a heat index of 106. Families lined up early, eager to escape the sweltering weather and resume a seasonal ritual interrupted by the pandemic and staffing issues in past years.
“We’ve BeenWaiting for This Day”
At Hale Pool in Clearing, James Moser and his 6-year-old granddaughter, Madelyn Salas, were among the first to arrive.
“We’ve been waiting for this day,” said Moser, a neighborhood resident of over 30 years. “We come in the wintertime and look through the gates, counting down the months.”
This year’s pool season will tentatively run through August 17, with some locations possibly staying open until Labor Day. For the first time since 2020, all city pools will be open seven days a week — a change welcomed by longtime pool-goers like Moser, who fondly carried his daughter’s old “Rugrats” towel for Madelyn.
Families Seek Tradition and Relief
At Washington Park Pool, where kids had ample space to splash around in the 50-meter water, families shared stories of generational bonding through swimming.
Angela Shear, who visited the pool as a child, brought her own son, Tony Rocha, now 5 years old.
“When we were kids, we didn’t have air conditioning,” she said. “So I basically lived at the pool in the summer.”
Despite the heat and humidity, attendance was lower than expected at several locations — even in Chicago’s Southwest Side, which climate studies confirm is among the city’s hottest zones.
Al Molina, a longtime Clearing resident, said he didn’t realize his neighborhood was among the most heat-vulnerable:
“I just check the forecast and hope it’s not going to rain. We’re lucky we even have a pool nearby. Not every park district does.”
Citywide Heat Warning Triggers Schedule Changes
Due to the dangerous heat index, the Park District adjusted pool hours to allow for open swim sessions from 1 p.m. to closing throughout the weekend. The only exception was Grand Crossing Park Pool, which remained closed due to mechanical issues, but is expected to open this week.
Popular pools across the city include McKinley Park, Portage Park, and Washington Park, where manager Sam Jorden called the latter “the jewel of the South.”
Even with the giant slide closed for maintenance, teens at Washington Park Pool — like Kayl Holmes, 15, and friends — took full advantage of the open water.
Clean, Safe, and Family-Friendly
Stephanie Holmes, a South Loop resident, came with her 10-year-old daughter and 4-year-old grandson.
“I feel free in the water,” Holmes said, praising the pool’s cleanliness and family atmosphere. “There are no adults doing anything inappropriate around the kids.”
Other parents echoed her sentiments, saying Chicago’s public pools offer not just cool water — but also a safe, welcoming space during the year’s hottest months.
As the summer intensifies, these pools will continue serving as more than just places to cool off — they’re vital community hubs.
Do you have a favorite Chicago public pool or summer memory at one? Let us know in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
