Weekend & Monthly Events for Kids and Families, plus Summer Camp Guides:
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Kelly Pool –– West Fairmount Park
Flanked by shade-giving trees and filled with 800,000 gallons of H2O, your family will love splashing around in all eight lanes of Fairmount Park’s Kelly Pool, three of which are permanently designated as lap lanes for the dedicated swimmers in the family. The surrounding green space is great. Kelly’s Olympic-sized pool features a deep end for experienced swimmers, something not seen everywhere.
Cobbs Creek Park Pool –– Cobbs Creek Park
This pool is currently closed for the 2025 swimming season while the Rebuild Philadelphia initiative works on renovations. When it is open, families can enjoy nature adventures at Cobbs Creek Park, including its outdoor pool. The pool lies next to the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center, which has lots of family programming for kids to enjoy.
Best Free Swimming Pools for Families in South Philly
James Finnegan Playground Pool –– Paschall
South Philadelphians love swimming at this large community pool right across from the playground. A sprinkler provides additional water play and helps win it a place among the best public pools for kids in Philly. A newly-added wooden oasis area provides more places to relax. On the grounds, there's a multipurpose room that hosts a variety of activities for youth, adults, and families. The park also contains courts for basketball, hockey, and tennis.
Kingsessing Recreation Center Pool –– Kingessing
For part of the Summer 2025 season, the Kingsessing Rec Center pool will be closed for renovation under the Rebuild Philadelphia project. It will reopen partway through the summer. Check the website for updates. The Kingsessing Rec Center pool is one of the larger ones in the city, and locals report a real family feel among those who frequent these waters. Kingsessing Pool has lounge chairs, umbrellas, and privacy screening from the street. The center itself is on an 8.4-acre park that's home to ball fields, handball, tennis and basketball courts. The Rebuild Philadelphia initiative will also renovate the community center and library on the grounds.
Barry Playground Pool –– Girard Estates
Adjacent to Barry Playground, Barry Pool provides open swim and family swim for at least one session a day, and free lessons every weekday. This four-acre site also has basketball, tennis, hockey, and volleyball courts, in addition to sports fields.
Marian Anderson Recreation Center Pool –– Point Breeze
Regulars appreciate that this pool has designated areas for swimmers based on age and ability, which helps keep everyone safe while allowing older and stronger swimmers to enjoy some time away from the noise and splashing of little ones. Marian Anderson has life jackets on site; a big plus. There’s a small but cute grassy area to lay out in the sun, umbrellas for shade, and chairs for perfecting your tan.
Best Free Swimming Pools for Families in North Philly
Northern Liberties Recreation Center Pool –– Northern Liberties
There’s time allotted for free swim and family swim at this beloved community pool, in addition to lessons and activities. It’s pretty cozy here, with five lanes for your family to submerge themselves, but that makes it a welcoming environment for younger swimmers. The pool maxes out at 5 feet, so there's no diving, but it might therefore be more appealing to littler ones. Kids can enjoy a spray ground here, too. The high brick walls afford privacy from the street, and the adjacent recreation center has a full slate of kids' activities.
Samuel Playground Pool –– Port Richmond
Residents describe Samuel Pool as the main hub for neighborhood youth. Chillier days are no problem here, thanks to the pool’s heating system. The schedule includes free swim every day in summer, family swim every weekday, and lessons through registration. Samuel is another pool with a deep end for older swimmers.
Athletic Recreation Center Pool –– Brewerytown
The Athletic Rec Center Pool can be summed up in one word: slides! It’s the only free city pool where you can sail down playground structures into the water, making it a popular family pick. A spray ground adds to the fun, and the center also hosts a basketball court and sports fields.
Hancock Playground Pool –– Fishtown
Hancock is a great place to cool off after sweating it out on the playground, which received a $1 million renovation in November 2020. The pool is on the smaller side; ideal for families and kids who are building confidence in their water skills.
Cione Playground Pool –– Kensington
Daily free swim is available at Cione, where you can also sign up for lessons or the swim team. An attached shallow section is perfect for younger kids. There is an awesome adjacent playground, and the recreation center includes a ball field, hockey rink, sports field, and three basketball courts.
Best Free Swimming Pools for Families in Northeast Philly
Bridesburg Recreation Center Pool –– Bridesburg
The Bridesburg Rec Center Pool was always a hot destination for families. This pool welcomes hundreds of kids for lessons, camps, and teams, and it has an ADA-compliant ramp. This is another one of a handful in the city with a deep end extending past five feet.
Vogt Playground Pool –– Tacony
If you’re in the Northeast section of the city, take a family float at Vogt. This large T-shaped pool has something for everyone, including lessons, family swim, open swim, and tot swim programs. An adjacent spray ground keeps the party going when the kiddos emerge from the water. And if you’re looking for charm, Vogt has it –– there’s a hole in the rec center wall that staff climb through to access the pool.
Lackman Playground Pool –– Bustleton
Lackman Playground Pool is another city favorite, complemented by well-kept grounds, a nice playground, and a spray ground for more water play. It might not be the beach, but there is a sandbox, making this pool one of the only ones in the city where you can replicate the shore experience. A peaceful stretch of grass outside the pool fence is wonderful for catching a few rays.
American Legion Playground Pool –– Tacony
The American Legion pool sits on a 15.8-acre property in the Northeast section with modern playground equipment, fields, and sports facilities. The center hosts a variety of kids' programs if you’re looking for something outside of the pool.
Fox Chase Recreation Center Pool –– Fox Chase
In addition to an updated playground and sprinklers featuring a kid-friendly dragon, the Fox Chase Recreation Center pool serves the community with dedicated times for open swim, family swim, parent and tot swim, and lessons.
Best Free Swimming Pools for Families in Northwest Philly
Awbury Recreation Center Pool –– Germantown
At Awbury Recreation Center Pool, a spray ground complements the landscape here, providing cool fun on a hot day. Philly families love heading uptown to this pool, where the abundant greenery seems to lower the temperature by a few degrees.
Kendrick Recreation Center Pool –– Roxborough
Roxborough residents give high marks to the public swim program at the Kendrick Recreation Center pool, which some affectionately refer to as the “bathie.” The pool offers open swim, family swim, lessons, teams, and it has a deep end. The center gives neighborhood kids plenty to do with classes and activities, a playground, and sports facilities.
Pleasant Playground Pool –– Mt. Airy
Lounge on a chair underneath an umbrella, or frolic through the sprinklers next to this Mt. Airy pool on 4.7 acres of city-owned land. As part of Philadelphia’s Swim Philly program, Pleasant Pool often hosts fun kid-friendly events. Families also love this rec center’s playground.
Best Swimming Pools for Families in the Philly Suburbs
In the Philadelphia suburbs, pools that provide day passes are rare, with many pools being member-only swim clubs instead. Sadly, none of these pools are free. But if you're willing to pay a small fee, there are a handful of worthwhile pools that extend one-day passes.
Marsh Creek Pool –– Downingtown
Located inside Marsh Creek Park, this pool includes a separate Splash Zone that's a hit with the kids. The deep end is just over 5 feet deep, but the shallow end is shallow enough for even toddlers to wade. A full concession stand sells everything from hot dogs and chicken nuggets to ice cream and soft pretzels. Daily admission is $14 for all ages.
Spring City Community Pool –– Spring City
The Spring City Community Pool actually includes three pools: a large pool with a deep end and a shallow end, a shallow pool for elementary-age children, and a baby wading pool. Daily admission costs $10 per person. Swimmers aged 15 and younger have to be accompanied by an adult who's older than 21.
French Creek Swimming Pool –– Elverson
Located inside of French Creek State Park, the French Creek Swimming Pool is a large swimming pool with a full-service concession stand, pavilion rentals, and large bathhouses. Outside snacks and food are also allowed, except alcohol. Daily admission is $13 per person.
Hatfield Aquatic Center –– Hatfield
The Hatfield Aquatic Center goes way beyond a typical pool. Think of it as a blend of a pool and a water park. Visitors can enjoy the Whale Sprayground, for ages 5 and younger; a Water Castle for kids; and the 8-foot-wide Blue Otter slide for up to three children to slide down side-by-side. Older swimmers (at least 48 inches tall) may try out the larger water slides, and a Lazy River with water tubes is available for all (although kids under 6 need adult supervision). What's more, there's a hydrotherapy pool for adults. and a fitness pool for those who can pass a swim test. The cost is cheaper for residents ($22 Monday through Friday, compared to $34 for non-residents; and $25 on Saturday and Sunday for residents, versus $35 for non-residents). There are discounts for kids under 5 and adults over 60.
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