Health
Chicago Park District Will Stagger Pool Closings as Summer Heat Lingers, But Lifeguards Are Heading Back to School
(Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
The Chicago Park District has announced a phased closing of pools and beaches, beginning Sunday, as an attempt to balance the reality of back-to-school clashing with the dog days of summer.
Heat may linger well past Labor Day, but many of the district’s student-aged lifeguards head back to high school and college in August. The first day of the 2025-26 academic year for Chicago Public Schools is Aug. 18.
The Park District’s goal is to continue to provide Chicagoans with cooling options to the extent possible.
All 22 lakefront beaches, an inland beach at Humboldt Park, and 19 neighborhood pools will remain open through Labor Day, the Park District said.
Water spray features will stay open through the end of September, pending any maintenance needs. Due to safety concerns, spray features located next to an outdoor pool will close in tandem with the pool.
“Our 26 miles of lakefront and our neighborhood pools are vital to safeguarding our residents from the heat this summer,” said Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez- Rosa in a statement. “By 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.”
The 19 neighborhood pools were chosen based on criteria that included: the ability to accommodate a large volume of patrons; areas with high heat risk; and the variety of features, such as water slides, pool depth range and ADA accessibility.
Schedules for individual pools are posted on the Park District’s website.
The overall schedule for pools and beaches:
— Aug. 10: 15 indoor and outdoor pools will close.
— Aug. 17: 42 indoor and outdoor pools will close.
— Sept. 1: Last call for beaches and the remaining outdoor pools.
— Sept. 2: Indoor pools reopen for open swim and lap swim.
— Sept. 30: Water spray features will close for the season by the end of the month.
The district noted that the schedule is dependent on staffing availability and is subject to adjustments.
The season started on a high note, with the district able to staff all pools and beaches, but was marred by a shooting in late June at the Douglass Park pool in North Lawndale. One teenager was killed, another one was injured, and a veteran lifeguard was accused of the crime.
Contact Patty Wetli: [email protected]
