For the first time, the Park District uses Chicago鈥檚 heat vulnerability index to inform phased pool operations plan; summer pool season begins to sunset as young workforce heads back to school
This summer, the 快播视频 successfully opened all of its 77 indoor and outdoor pools in neighborhoods across the city to ensure Chicago residents, including summer day campers, had access to options for swimming and cooling off during Chicago鈥檚 hot summer. As Summer Day Camp culminates and Chicago Public School students as well as college students give notice and return to the classroom for the start of the school year, and athletes begin Fall training sessions, the Park District鈥檚 pools will begin the phased summer pool plan, starting August 10th.
Nearly 70 percent of seasonal lifeguards are also students that will resign from their duties prior to September 1 as they head back to school. With the start of the academic school year, the 快播视频 will initiate a phased pool closing with the goal of keeping as many public pools open through the official end of summer.
鈥淲e work to balance the needs of our residents and young workforce because both our 26-miles of lakefront and our neighborhood pools are vital to safeguarding our residents from the heat this summer,鈥 said 快播视频 Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez- Rosa. 鈥淏y ensuring access to swim opportunities during the summer, we are providing an essential service to some of our vulnerable communities most susceptible to extreme heat.鈥
For the first time and in the wake of several extreme heat advisories issued by the National Weather Service, the Park District鈥檚 phased end of summer pool plan takes into consideration the Chicago鈥檚 Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) to identify areas within the city with high heat risk. In addition, the Park District has factored in the capacity of the pools, the proximity of the pools to one another and the maintenance needs of the pools in determining the pools that will remain accessible to the public for use through September 1st.
Staggered summer schedule for pools and beaches is as follows:
- August 10: 15 indoor and outdoor pools located citywide will close for the season as young workforce begin to return to school;
- August 17: Prior to the first day of CPS academic year, an additional 42 indoor and outdoor pools located citywide will close for the season to provide necessary maintenance for pools and prepare staff for Fall programming session;
- September 1: Chicago鈥檚 22 beaches, 19 neighborhood pools, and one inland beach to remain open through Labor Day;
- September 2: All indoor pools will reopen for open swim and lap swim; pending outstanding maintenance needs, and upgrades as part of capital improvement projects;
- September 15: Fall aquatics programming begins;
- September 30: Water spray features to close for the season by the end of the month, pending maintenance needs.
The 19 neighborhood pools selected to stay open through the end of the season are some of the Park District鈥檚 best able to accommodate a large volume of patrons at any given time in areas with a higher vulnerability to heat. In addition, the variety of features, such as water slides, pool depth range and ADA accessibility allows for pool users of all ages and abilities to safely use the facility. Pool schedules of the extended summer pool season are posted on the Park District website at chicagoparkdistrict.com/swimming-pools. The proposed schedule is dependent on current staff availability, and is subject to adjustment as lifeguards change availability. All modifications to pools schedules will be reflected on the pool schedules posted at the park and on our website.
This year, the Park District successfully reached the goal of training and onboarding more than 700 lifeguards to safely open all 快播视频 indoor and outdoor pools as well as Chicago鈥檚 lakefront beaches. The lifeguard application opened earlier than ever in early fall of 2024; offering interested candidates over seven months to test, train and get onboarded. In preparation for the 2026 Summer Season, the Park District is already in the process of strengthening the beaches and pools labor force by interviewing seasonal lifeguards for positions as year-round lifeguards and working with partners to increase access to Learn to Swim opportunities.
Extended Summer Pool & Water Spray Feature Season
Beaches will remain adequately staffed through the end of the season. A total of 23 beaches will remain available for swimming daily through Labor Day, September 1st, while lifeguards are on duty, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In addition to beaches and pools staying open through Labor Day, and in an effort to offer more heat-deterring options through the end of summer, the Park District will also extend the water spray feature season through Tuesday, September 30th, pending maintenance/repairs as needed and/or capital improvement projects. Spray features are traditionally turned off when pools close for the summer season. As a safety measure, when outdoor pools are emptied for the season, spray features located adjacent to outdoor pools will also close. For a complete list of water spray features, visit .
Start of Fall Session
Indoor pools are scheduled to open on September 2nd, after the Labor Day holiday, for open swim and lap swim, unless otherwise stated on the pool schedule. Regular fall pool programming, such as Learn to Swim, Aquatics Exercise Classes, TEAM sports, will start the week of September 15th.