Final splash: Edmonton begins closing outdoor pools, spray parks

Edmonton’s outdoor pools and spray parks are closing.

The City of Edmonton announced Friday it would begin closing its outdoor pools and 76 spray parks on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in a phased manner.

All available spray parks and outdoor pools remained open on Sept. 2 for the Labour Day long weekend.

From Tuesday, city outdoor pools – Borden, Fred Broadstock, Mill Creek and Queen Elizabeth will remain closed. The city will conduct inspections and prepare equipment for colder overnight temperatures. From Sept. 3-8, public swim times at Wîhkwêntôwin will be 3-7 p.m. on Tuesday to Friday and 12-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Timed entries will no longer be available and drop-in admission is available on a first come, first served basis.

In a news release, the city stated that winterizing spray parks is an extensive process and residents will notice some parks operational after Sept. 3 as crews close them in a phased approach. Large district spray parks will remain open longest for families seeking one last splash of the season.

The new map feature on edmonton.ca/SprayParks will provide operating status of each location and is updated daily.

Shauna Graham, Site Coordination & Operations Supervisor said: “As the season draws to a close, our aquatics staff will be hard at work, ensuring our outdoor pools are safe and fun for Edmontonians next summer.”

According to the city, 2024 was the first full season where all five city outdoor pools were open for the summer season and welcomed 89,000 people.