HOUSTON – As temperatures begin to rise across the Houston area, the City of Houston is preparing to kick off the 2026 swim season with the early opening of several public pools later this month.
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) announced that Phase I of its 2026 summer pool schedule will begin Saturday, May 23, with select aquatic centers opening on weekends only.
The northeast and southeast areas of Houston each had just two pools open, while northwest and southwest Houston had three each.
Under the Phase I schedule, the following aquatic centers will be open:
Northwest Houston
- Love (1000 West 12th Street, Houston, TX, 77008)
- Memorial (6402 Arnot Street, Houston, TX, 77007)
- T.C. Jester (4205 T.C. Jester Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77018)
Northeast Houston
- Northline (6911 Nordling Road, Houston, TX, 77076)
- Tuffly (3200 Russell Street, Houston, TX, 77026)
Southwest Houston
- Alief (11903 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77072)
- Emancipation (3018 Emancipation Avenue, Houston, TX, 77004)
- MacGregor (5225 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX, 77021)
Southeast Houston
- Mason (541 South 75th Street, Houston, TX, 77023)
- Wilson Memorial (100 Gilpin Street, Houston, TX, 77034)
According to the department, the aquatic centers included in Phase I will remain open through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1.
The pools will initially operate Saturdays and Sundays through June 7, before expanded summer operations begin later in June.
Saturday swim hours will run from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., while Sunday hours will be 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
HPARD also released holiday hours for Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day and Labor Day, with pools operating from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on those dates.
Officials said additional pools could be added during the early portion of the season as more seasonal staff members are hired and trained.
Phase II of the city’s summer swim schedule is expected to begin Tuesday, June 16. Additional details about expanded pool operations and locations are expected to be released closer to that date.