(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)

Tucked onto the Santa Monica College campus, the aquatic complex has an airy, Southern California openness to it. On a recent visit, it struck me as the rare public pool that manages to cater to both hardcore swimmers and families looking to cool off.

The secret is its two-pool setup. The deep, Olympic-sized fitness pool is built for speed, with wave-reducing gutters that help keep the water surprisingly calm even when lanes are packed. Nearby, a warm instructional pool hosts swim lessons, water aerobics and younger swimmers taking their first strokes. Together, they create a facility that’s bigger, busier and more versatile than most municipal pools in Los Angeles. Beyond lap swimming, lessons and fitness classes, the center also offers synchronized swimming classes with the vintage-inspired water ballet troupe, the Aqualillies, at the SMC pool. Participants learn the fundamentals of artistic swimming — including sculling, back layouts, ballet legs and tucks — while getting a surprisingly challenging full-body workout.

Size: 50-meter x 25-yard in both pools
Swim lanes: 19 lanes short course; eight lanes long course (reservations may be required during peak hours)
Depth: Fitness pool ranges from approximately 6.5 feet to 13 feet deep; Splash pool is approximately 4.5 feet deep throughout.
Admission: Single-entry fees start at $2 for Santa Monica residents and $4 for nonresidents; discounts are available for seniors and students. Family weekend passes and 20-swim passes are also offered. Children younger than 2 swim free.
Parking: Paid parking is available in Santa Monica College lots, with additional metered street parking nearby.
Hours: Check the updated summer schedule to plan accordingly. Reservations are encouraged from 3 p.m. to closing, Monday through Friday.
Extras: The Splash pool offers swim lessons, water aerobics and family programming, including Family Splash Nights with pool floats and a floating obstacle course. For something decidedly more L.A., the center partners with the Aqualillies for artistic-swimming classes that teach everything from sculling to ballet legs. Birthday parties and special events can be booked in designated spaces, including the Upper Sun Deck overlooking the pool complex.

(Lisa Boone/Los Angeles Times)

When summer hits the San Fernando Valley, finding ways to cool off is a must, which is why my kids grew up swimming at the Verdugo Aquatic Facility in Burbank.

(When it closed for upgrades, the kids on our street were so bereft that they set up a lemonade stand, hoping it would help expedite the pool’s reopening.)

The pool is open year-round, but it’s especially popular in the summer, when it offers recreational swimming, swim lessons starting at 6 months old, a junior lifeguard program, lap swimming and other sports.

There’s a fun activity pool for kids ages 4 and under, with waterslides, dumping water buckets, a play area and a shallow wading pool with a beach-style entry. Chaise longues, picnic tables with umbrellas, and multiple lifeguards give the public pool a resort feel.

On a recent Friday, the main Olympic-sized pool was busy with families, but there were still plenty of lanes open for lap swimming. I tried a Monday evening Aquatic NoodleFit class, where you use a pool noodle for low-impact resistance training while standing in the center of the pool. The instructor, Karen Eldridge, was warm and welcoming and gave clear instructions, even working up a sweat herself as we followed her moves on the pool deck. The workout was challenging and fun, but not overwhelming for students of all levels, body types and ages, thanks to the water’s support.

During the week, the activity pool is usually not crowded, but on weekends, staff closely monitor capacity as it can get busy. Burbank residents get priority and can buy presale wristbands online at BurbankParks.com from Monday to Friday between 9 and 10 a.m. If you can’t get into the activity pool, don’t worry. The recreational pool is a fun and easy backup option.

Size: 50 by 18 meters
Temperature: 80 to 82
Swim lanes: 7
Depth: 2.5 feet to 8 feet and a 12-foot diving well
Admission: Lap swimming, $5 to $9. Monthly membership, $41 to $96. Activity pool, $4. Water fitness classes are subscription-based and range from $99 to $110, depending on the class. (My Aquatic NoodleFit class costs $109 as a nonresident for an 11-class series).
Parking: Free.
Hours: Lap swimming, 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Recreational swimming, 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Extras: Activity pool, snack bar, vending machines.

(Mariella Rudi/For The Times)

If your ideal pool day involves running through spray fountains with a toddler in tow rather than logging laps, Stoner Park Pool may be the most fun public pool on the Westside. This Sawtelle-area pool feels more like a mini water park. A giant serpentine waterslide curls overhead like a relic from summers past — it’s currently out of service, but still serves as the pool’s unofficial mascot. A shallow-entry recreation pool invites kids to wade in gradually, while six interactive water features spray, splash and soak swimmers from every direction. A great pick for families with young kids. For a community largely made up of toddlers, staff encourage families to bring their own chairs and approved water toys, a rarity at many public pools.

Serious swimmers may want to look elsewhere. While four marked lanes exist, lap swimming isn’t formally offered, and the pool’s maximum depth of 4.5 feet makes it better suited for splashing than training. But for young children, beginning swimmers and anyone looking to cool off on a hot afternoon, Stoner Park delivers exactly what many city pools don’t: a place where play comes first.

Size: 24 yards
Swim lanes: 4 (no reservations required)
Depth: Beach-style entry starts at 0 feet and gradually slopes to 4.5 feet at the deepest point.
Admission: Cash only. $1 for children, seniors and people with disabilities; $4 for adults ages 18–49. A Youth Summer Swim Pass ($10) provides unlimited admission to L.A. City pools from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Parking: One shared lot serves the entire park and fills quickly during summer afternoons. Limited street parking is available nearby, much of it with time restrictions.
Hours: Summer recreational swim is typically offered weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. Check schedules before visiting, as hours can change.
Extras: Six interactive splash features include everything from mushroom fountains to high-pressure spray cannons. The pool also offers swim lessons, junior lifeguard training and youth swim-team programs. Families may bring their own chairs, blankets and approved water toys. A separate small instructional pool is used for water-acclimation classes and beginner lessons. Note that the ADA pool lift was not operational at the time of reporting; contact the facility ahead of time for accessibility accommodations.

(Rebecca Lieb/For The Times)

The Hilda Solis Aquatic Center is the new kid on the L.A. swimming scene (it opened June 2025) and it shows — this state-of-the-art facility has two beautiful pools, including one Olympic-sized pool and one purely recreational pool. There’s also spacious locker rooms and thoughtful, community-centric design that works for family excursions or solo summer swims. A large lot, bike racks and EV charging stations create an inclusive, stress-free parking experience, while bleachers, a small park and an indigenous garden (wafting notes of sage and lavender throughout the entryway!) also make it easy to sit, soak and stay a while.

The center is the first L.A. County-operated aquatic facility in the San Gabriel Valley, which means extended hours compared to other L.A. Parks and Rec pools (though be warned — they’re closed on Sundays). Named and created in partnership with Supervisor Hilda Solis (who grew up in Puente Valley), the Hilda Solis Aquatic Center has made quite a splash (sorry) with its free recreational swim times, ample swimming lanes and variety of summer activities, including lifeguard training, swimming lessons, team sports and a mysteriously fun-sounding “artistic swimming” class.

Size: 50 by 25 meters, 25 by 25 meters
Swim lanes: 13-15 lanes (no reservations required)
Depth: 7-13 feet in the Olympic-sized pool, 3.6–5 feet in the recreational pool
Admission: Free for free swim, $80 for 30 punches, or $15 for 5 punches for lap swim.
Parking: Large free lot, EV chargers, bike racks
Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Extras: Splash pads, water polo, water exercise classes, swimming classes.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Nestled in Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco, just a short walk from Kidspace Museum and the Rose Bowl, the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center is a lively spot, so beloved by regulars that many are already mourning its closure next year as it prepares to host diving events for the 2028 Olympics. (The center will stay open through 2026 and part of 2027 before closing.)

On any day, you might see people swimming laps in the two Olympic-sized pools, kids and adults learning to swim, divers executing flips, water polo games, swim meets, aqua fitness classes in both shallow and deep water and even a therapy pool in use.

Over the years, I’ve taken many aqua fitness classes here, including finning, aqua Zumba, strong water burn in the shallow end and dynamic deep-water fitness. In the deep-water classes, you wear a flotation belt and use Styrofoam weights while exercising. Just like lap swimming, you can go at your own pace in these classes. Some people take it easy, while others push themselves. Sometimes, people make friends and get so busy chatting that instructors have to remind them to pay attention to the class.

Lap swimming is a solo sport, but here, the pools bring people together. I’ve seen swimmers hop into a lane just to greet Maurine Kornfeld, the 104-year-old swimmer everyone calls “Mighty Mo.” More recently, after the Eaton fire destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena, the pool became a place where people could come together and support each other as they cared for not just their physical, but their mental health too.

Size: 50 meters long by 25 yards wide
Swim lanes: 20 lanes over two Olympic-sized pools.
Depth: 3 feet 6 inches to 17 feet in the diving well.
Admission: Recreational swim: $2 for adults and $1 for children. Lap swim passes: $22 per day, $52 per week, or $100 per month. Lap therapy pool (which also includes lap swimming): $22 per day or $118 per month. Water fitness classes: $22 a day, $136 for the month. Quarterly and semi-annual passes are also available.
Parking: Free
Hours: The center is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recreational swim hours: noon to 12:55 p.m. Monday through Friday; 1 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. to 8:35 p.m. Saturday; 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and 4:50 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. Sunday.
Extras: Fitness center, two jacuzzis, cafe and an aquatics merchandise shop. Foam dumbbells, noodles and aquatic fitness swim float jog belts are provided.

(Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)

Looking for the ultimate place to cool off? Dive into the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center, one of the largest public swimming pools in the country. The San Fernando Valley’s sprawling, 1.5-acre pool is ideal for families and recreational swimmers alike. Built in 1999, the $15-million facility replaced an older neighborhood pool that had previously filled with silt. A wide strip of sand surrounds the pool, giving swimmers the feeling of relaxing on a beach. Along the sandy shores, individuals can take part in a game of beach volleyball or teqball. There are also different levels of shallow water perfect for young swimmers, and a water slide for thrill-seekers. If visitors need a change of scenery, the pool resides near a recreational lake, where you can enjoy a walking trail, go fishing or peddle on nonmotorized boats.

One major tip: The pool holds up to 3,500 people so be prepared for a lively, festive atmosphere on hot summer days.

Size: Pool is 1.5 acres
Swim lanes: No swim lanes; no lap swimming.
Depth: 1.5 million gallons of water, 4.5 feet max
Admission: Children ages 17 and younger, $1; adults ages 18 to 49, $4; seniors ages 50 and older, $1; persons with disabilities, $1; and youth summer swim passes, $10.
Parking: Large lot in front of aquatic center.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Extras: Waterslide, two volleyball courts, one teqball table, sand area, canopies for rental. Next to the pool is a 9-acre recreational lake for fishing, nonmotorized boats.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Before I moved to Los Angeles, TV shows like “The Hills” and “Entourage” filled my brain with deliciously glamorous (albeit generic) L.A. stereotypes: beautiful people lounging on a rooftop pool, taking in hot gossip, California sunshine and dazzling panoramic views.

Though I’ve long left that mostly-illusory preconception of L.A. behind me after two decades in L.A. (but who’s counting?), West Hollywood Aquatic Center has all the romance of the Los Angeles sold to me by cable programming … for a fraction of the cost.

Nestled between such WeHo city treasures as the Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood Park and SUR (shout-out to fellow Bravo diehards), the West Hollywood Aquatic Center rivals the city’s bougiest rooftop bars and hotel pool experiences; and at a mere $7.50 to swim (less if you live in WeHo), you can actually afford it.

Poolgoers can swim some laps, take a fitness class, or just hang out and enjoy the luxurious, 360-degree view on the pool’s large terrace — just make sure you check the facility’s schedule of summer closures and make a reservation (when necessary). Give yourself ample arrival time too. Between the library, parking garage and chaos of Melrose Avenue, finding the center for the first time can be a little confusing. You’ll know you’ve arrived once you hear the pool’s pulsing pop soundtrack — a little drama, just like on TV.

Size: recreational pool: 25 x 25 yards, competition pool 25 x 50 yards
Swim lanes: 10 (reservations required)
Depth: 3 feet that increases to 7 feet (recreation pool), 7 feet (competition pool)
Admission: Lap swim: $3 (adult resident), $7.50 (adult non-resident), free (senior/disabled resident). Rec swim: $1.50 (child resident), $3 (child non-resident), $3 (adult resident), $5 (adult non-resident), free (senior/disabled resident).
Parking: large lot in the complex (it’s easy to get lost, though — you physically have to leave the complex and take an elevator up to the center, located on the fifth floor)
Hours: The facility is generally open from 6 a.m. or 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. Check the website for details on closures, amended hours and other events (there are many).
Extras: Swim classes, site-specific events, swim teams, junior lifeguard classes, membership opportunities, an outdoor lounge space and an excellent view of Los Angeles.

(Jean Trinh / For The Times)

The Van Ness Recreation Center, which was originally built in 1959, had been without a working pool for nearly 15 years. But when a major renovation project gave it new life in 2021, the pool once again became a community hub, complete with a diving board and 42-foot serpentine slide (that’s open in the summer). Cheery pops of yellow and teal surround the year-round aquatic center that caters to visitors wanting recreational and lap swims.

The heated pool offers swim classes for children and adults, and youth team sports like water polo, dive, and artistic swim, as well as a junior lifeguards program. When there are special events held at the pool, there’s extra fun to be had with Aqua Fit classes, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.

A permanent feature outside the pool is a splash pad where kids can cool off under spouting fountains. To make a full day out of a visit, there’s also an adjacent playground and basketball court.

Size: 75 feet by 120 feet
Swim lanes: 8, depending on programming; no reservations required
Depth: 3 feet to 12 feet; diving well 12 feet.
Admission: Admission is free for children 2 and younger. The cost is $4 for adults ages 18 to 49 and $1 for children ages 3 to 17, adults 50 and older, and people with disabilities of any age. Payment is cash only.
Parking: Free parking in Van Ness Recreation Center lot.
Hours: Typical hours are weekdays from noon to 6 p.m. and weekends from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., but check the website before visiting.
Extras: Waterslide, splash pad and diving board.

(Deborah Netburn/Los Angeles Times)

After just one visit to the Lincoln Park Pool in Lincoln Heights, even L.A.’s loudest detractors will have to admit the city is doing something right: It’s that good. Embedded in one of L.A.’s oldest public parks, dating back to 1881, the pool was renovated in 2019 and still maintains a fresh, updated feel seven years later. Parking is easy and free in the adjacent lot, and you’ll enter the pool facility through a shaded courtyard with a towering plant wall on one end. After purchasing your ticket ($4 if you are between the ages of 18 and 49, $1 if you are not), you’ll pass into a curved open area with clean private bathrooms that double as changing stalls as well as outdoor showers where you can rinse off in warm water. The pool itself is large and well-maintained with eight lap lanes and three areas for recreational swimming, including a deep water area with a diving board. I’ve been told the pool gets crowded on the weekends and summer afternoons, but I arrived just after it opened at noon on a weekday and there were only a handful of lap swimmers gliding quietly through the water. Parents of young kids will appreciate the splash pad playground right next to the pool that is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. And if you find you’re hungry after your swim (I always do), the excellent Village Mart and Deli is a three-minute drive away. The pool also offers swim lessons, synchronized swimming, water polo, diving, aquafit cardio and a junior lifeguard program.

Size: 9,000 square feet
Swim lanes: 8
Depth: 3 feet, 6 inches to 12 feet
Admission: $1 children 17 and under, $4 for adults, $1 adults 50 and up
Parking: Free
Hours: Noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)

The light blue midcentury-style facilities at Hollywood Pool evoke a certain nostalgia for summertime play.

However vintage it may look, the pool is one of the newer swimming locales in the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks’ offerings; it opened in 2015. Tucked in a neighborhood just blocks south of the Walk of Fame, Hollywood Pool caters to both families and pro swimmers with a two-sided shallow pool and eight lap lanes. Sunbaked bleacher-style seating offers a place to rest or watch the splish-splash action. The facilities were clean and most patrons were calm on a recent June day, but as the season wears on, guests can expect the pool to fill up with young and old Angelenos alike.

Size: 38 by 22 meters
Swim lanes: 8
Depth: 3 feet to 12 feet; diving boards at 12 feet.
Admission: $1 for children up to 17, for adults 50 and up and for persons with disabilities; $4 for adults 18-49. $10 for Summer Youth Pass
Parking: Free, but spaces are limited. Street parking is metered.
Hours: Monday to Friday 3 p.m to 7 p.m. for recreational swim; Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for recreational swim. Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lap swim. Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Extras: A slide (check ahead if it is in operation) and competition-ready starting blocks.

Echo Park Pool

(Deborah Netburn/Los Angeles Times)

It is theoretically possible to swim outdoors all year long in the city of Los Angeles. That being said, there are times when an indoor pool beckons. On those days, the Echo Park Pool, located south of the 101 Freeway on Colton Street, can’t be beat. Large, clean and airy in an industrial kind of way, the pool area gets ample natural light from windows on three of its four sides and despite its massive size, it has somehow managed to escape the pungent smell of chlorine that I remember from the indoor pools of my youth. The staff is friendly, the dressing rooms clean and well cared for (if not necessarily beautiful), and the programming is robust: private and group swim lessons, AquaFit classes, junior lifeguard training and water polo, artistic swimming and swim teams. On a recent midday visit I shared the pool with just a few other lap swimmers and a father and son who were playing in the recreational area, but that tranquility is not guaranteed. According to a sign, each lap lane can accommodate up to seven swimmers, which sounds stressful to me. The pool is open for both lap swim and recreational swim, but I highly recommend calling or checking the pool’s active Instagram account before you go to make sure the times haven’t changed. They seem to be in frequent flux.

Size: 9,000 square feet (25 yards by 40 yards)
Depth: 9 feet
Swim lanes: 16 (8 lanes for lap swimming)
Admission: $1 children 0-17, $4 for adults, $1 adults 50 and up
Parking: Free
Hours: Monday through Friday: Lap swim, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., noon to 2 p.m., 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (limited). Recreational swim, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: Lap swim, noon to 5 p.m. Recreational swim, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

(Maddie Connors/For The Times)

Just steps from the Alondra Aquatic Center, visitors are often greeted by a man selling elotes beneath a rainbow umbrella. It’s the type of sight — like a sunburn, popsicle, or ill-fated romance — that invites the feeling of a perennial L.A. summer day. To the right of the aquatic center sits a concrete skatepark for the young, fearless, and invincible. Inside, there’s plenty of fun to be had in warm waters. Children jump off diving boards, following one another like a trail of ducklings. They’re part of one of the many swimming programs offered by the center for all ages. For competitive swimmers, lane dividers carve the pool into training lanes where they can log their miles. A lone palm tree towers over the pool. Nearby, a shaded seating area allows families to cheer on loved ones as they learn to swim. Next door is a well-maintained splash pad, where toddlers run beneath a waterfall, their screams briefly mistaken for terror. An outside parking lot provides ample parking. The pool is open for a few hours each day and is closed on Sundays. The facility includes a locker room with showers and changing stalls adorned in aquamarine-colored tile, a splash of that makes Rendondo Beach feel like a tropical paradise.

Size of pool: 25 x 25 meters
Swim lanes: 10 lanes
Depth: 3.5 feet to 12.5 feet
Admission: Free for recreational swimming, $15 for 5 lap passes.
Parking: Yes
Hours: Summer hours (June 8- Aug. 15) Monday-Saturday: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m., Saturday: 12:30 - 4 p.m.,

Extras: All levels swim classes, splash pad, skate park.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Tucked away in the remodeled Algin Sutton Recreation Center, the namesake pool has been a part of the park’s history for nearly a century. In 2021, the park unveiled a much-needed upgrade and its pool was demolished and newly constructed. It was complete with renovated locker rooms and an adjacent splash pad surrounded by palm trees.

The landscaping also had a makeover and the aquatic center is now surrounded by uplifting colors of yellow, blue and red. A white metal canopy resembling a plane’s wings serves as a nod to the flight paths overhead from the nearby Los Angeles International Airport.

The year-round and heated pool offers a bevy of swim classes and youth programs, from water polo to artistic swim and diving teams, and junior lifeguards. But most of all, it’s a solid spot to get a good lap swim in.

Size: 75 feet by 120 feet
Swim lanes: 8, depending on programming(no reservations required)
Depth: 2.5 feet to 8 feet; diving well 12 feet.
Admission: Admission is free for children 2 and younger. The cost is $4 for adults ages 18 to 49 and $1 for children ages 3 to 17, adults 50 and older, and people with disabilities of any age. Payment is cash only, and exact change is preferred.
Parking: Free parking in Algin Sutton Recreation Center lot.
Hours: Typical hours are weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m., but check the website before visiting.
Extras: Splash pad, diving board.

Culver City Municipal Plunge

A black-and-white photo of Hollywood swimming star Esther Williams hangs near the entrance, while a preserved newspaper clipping notes that in 1949, neighborhood kids first handed over 20 cents for a swim. More than 75 years later, “The Plunge” remains one of the longest-operating municipal pools in Los Angeles County. It’s a classic competition pool built for people who actually want to swim. The heated outdoor pool can be configured for either long-course or short-course swimming, attracting everyone from lap swimmers and triathletes to Boy Scouts completing swim tests and group AquaFit classes. The water is maintained with a partial saltwater system, and temperatures typically hover around 76 degrees. Whenever the sun’s not out, the water can get a bit cold, so bring a swim cap to stay warm.

Size: 50-meter by 25-yard
Swim lanes: 19 lanes short course; eight lanes long course (reservations required)
Depth: 4.5 feet in shallow; 13 feet in the deep
Admission: Reservations are required through online registration, though one drop-in lane is available on a first-come, first-served basis, especially during the summer; admission is $4 for adults ages 18 to 49 and $3 for youth 17 and younger, seniors 50 and older, and people with disabilities.
Parking: Free in the Veterans Memorial Park lot, with entrance on Culver Boulevard; Wednesday evenings can be particularly busy due to nearby community meetings and events.
Hours: Check the city’s website before visiting but typical hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6 a.m. to noon; Tuesday and Thursday 6 to 9 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday noon to 3 p.m.
Extras: A separate 25-yard-by-52-foot diving well features 1-meter and 3-meter springboards. Programming includes AquaFit classes, adult water exercise, stand-up paddleboard fitness classes, swim lessons for all ages and free lifeguard certification courses for ages 15 and up. The pool will also host the Aquacade during Fiesta La Ballona this Aug. 28-30, transforming the Plunge into a family-friendly aquatic playground with recreational swims, a dive-in movie, ducky races and a giant inflatable obstacle course.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

L.A.’s public pools are a wonderful municipal resource, sure, but they’re typically no-frills, unmemorable locales to get some laps in. Hey Rookie is quite the exception. Perched on a hill overlooking the San Pedro harbor, this pool is stunning, featuring a tiled floor, modern stadium seating and a glass-paned main building.

But what’s even more remarkable is the pool’s history. It was built on Ft. MacArthur during the early years of World War II, funded by proceeds from a live show called “Hey Rookie” that aimed to boost the morale of the men stationed at the remote gun battery. For decades after the war, the pool was enjoyed by the San Pedro community until the 1990s when it was drained and became a canvas for taggers.

Size: 33 1/3 meters
Swim lanes: 2-9 (no reservations required)
Depth: 3.5 feet to 8 feet
Admission: $4 for adults, $1 for youth under 18 (cash only, exact change required); summer passes are available
Parking: Small lot and street parking.
Hours: Recreational swim hours are 1 to 3:25 p.m. on weekdays, 1 to 4:55 p.m. on weekends. Lap swim hours are 9 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. on weekdays, 1 to 4:55 p.m. on weekends. Check the pool’s Instagram page (@heyrookiepool.lacityparks) for updates on closures.
Extras: For a walk-in price of $5, you can take an adult “aquafit” cardio class, offered every weekday at 12:05 p.m.

(Maddie Connors/For The Times)

If the anarchy of the ocean water offends you, might I recommend the Belmont Plaza Pool, just a few feet from the beach? The pool occupies a coveted location, surrounded by retro coffee shops and diners — the kind that might inspire a Beach Boys lyric. The facility even has a notable history: it hosted two U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, in 1968 and 1976. Once at the pool, the calming salt breeze still floats through the air, while the pummeling waves remain audible from yards away. The water is much warmer than the Pacific Ocean, too. The Olympic-sized pool is magnificent, reflecting a cool cyan hue reminiscent of a David Hockney painting. The pool has dividers for lane swimming, as well as a number of starting blocks for competitions. In the background, a particularly relaxed lifeguard plays Grateful Dead–style rock music through a speaker. Street parking along the beach is generally accessible; the pool is closed on Fridays and Sundays. After you’re done with your butterfly stroke, take a quick drive to visit the Queen Mary — the legendary ocean liner moored in Long Beach Harbor.

Size of pool: Olympic 50 meters x 25 meters
Lanes: 18-20 lanes
Depth: 3.5 - 6.5 feet
Admission: Adults $4, seniors $3, free for youth 17 and under
Parking: Coin-operated metered lot.
Hours: Lap swim: 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday; recreational swim: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; closed Sundays.

(Rebecca Leib / For The Times)

For a public facility, Reseda Park Pool is fairly typical — clean, minimal, with ample outdoor space and many opportunities for pool sports and leagues. Yet unlike many other pools, Reseda is a true “Valley Relic,” a historic little SFV gem that fuses city utility and 1930s flare.

Walking through the pool’s two-story, Mission-style administration building and burnt red Spanish colonnades, you can almost picture its opening way back on July 4, 1931 … until you’re offered a foam noodle under an industrial cabana at the edge of its gleaming, modern pool. While the design has incorporated shade from the cabana and surrounding structures, the 100-year-old facility gets some pretty intense sunlight, so hydrate and wear lots of sunscreen. And hey, if you need more of a cooldown, you can also check out the park’s other two “pools,” the Reseda Park Lake and the Northeast portion of the (intermittently) beloved L.A. River.

Size: 22.86 meters by 36.57 meters.
Swim lanes: 9 (no reservations required)
Depth: 3 feet to 12 feet
Admission: Children (0–17): $1, Adults (18–49): $4, 50+ (50 & Up): $1, Persons with Disabilities (All Ages): $1. Cash only.
Parking: Free large lot.
Hours: Typical hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Check the website before you go, as hours are subject to change without notice.
Extras: Noodles and kickboards available, team sports, lifeguard training and swim lessons.

(Rebecca Leib / For The Times)

Ritchie Valens Pool is a low-key, no-frills spot where you can spend an afternoon beating the San Fernando Valley heat and connecting to some profound (if tragic) Valley history. Originally the Paxton Pool, in 1994 it was renamed the Ritchie Valens Recreational Center and pool in 1994, commemorating the Pacoima-born Latino rock legend in the place he called home. Ritchie Valens (born Richard Stephen Valenzuela) was a 17-year-old student at San Fernando High School when he died in a 1959 plane crash alongside fellow musicians the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly. Called “the Little Richard of San Fernando,” Valens was best known for his hit song, “La Bamba,” a rock ’n’ roll re-imagining of a traditional Mexican wedding song. Valens’ legacy is felt worldwide, but especially in Pacoima, where the pool and rec area memorialize Valens and celebrate Pacoima’s Latino culture and community. While the rec area is usually bustling with team sports, the pool area is secluded from the center and usually pretty quiet — nobody will complain if you pop on “Donna” or “La Bamba,” for old times’ sake.

Size: 20 by 40 meters
Swim lanes: 2-4 lanes (no reservations required)
Depth: 9 feet
Admission: Adults (ages 18 to 49) are $4. Children (17 and younger), adults 50 and older, and people with disabilities of all ages are $1. Cash only.
Parking: Large lot next to pool
Hours: Typical hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. on select weekends. Check the website before you go, as hours are subject to change without notice.
Extras: Lifeguard training, group, semi-private and private swim lessons.

(Jean Trinh/For The Times)

Nestled behind the L.A. Memorial Coliseum is one of the city’s grandest public swimming complexes, Expo Center’s John C. Argue Swim Stadium. Originally built for the 1932 Summer Olympics, the stadium has been home to historic diving and swimming competitions for nearly a century. With excitement buzzing for the upcoming LA28 Olympics, a visit to this hidden gem feels especially poignant as a journey back in time.

While its 50-meter competition pool is currently drained and under construction, its year-round and heated family recreation pool, which was also built in 1932, is up and running. And it is a delight. The half-moon-shaped pool, surrounded by palm trees and lounge chairs, is a peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of Exposition Park. The zero-entry pool gradually slopes down like a beach to 3.5 feet for recreational swimming, and the multiple water sprays give it a playful resort feel. It also includes dedicated lap lanes that go down to 4.5 feet. Programming includes BOGA and AquaFit classes for adults, and swim lessons for all ages, with youth swim team and splash ball in the mix. One of the best parts is that the pool can be rented out for parties.

Even though the pools were last refurbished in 2003, some of the original architectural details, like the Grecian-inspired urns and lion’s head fountains, have remained. Even Huell Howser was so amazed by the complex that he filmed an episode about it for “California’s Gold.” For schedules, lesson registrations, and facility updates, check the website.

Size: Family pool — 40 by 30 meters.
Swim lanes: 5, depending on programming (no reservations required)
Depth: 0 to 4.5 feet
Admission: $1 for children 17 and under, persons with disabilities and adults over 50; $4 for adults 18-49; $10 for Summer Youth Pass; cash only.
Parking: Free parking available directly adjacent to the pool and behind Ralph M. Parsons Preschool, and limited free street parking on Menlo Avenue. Paid overflow parking available east of the pool in Pink Lot.
Hours: Typical hours are weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and weekends from noon to 1 p.m., but check the website before visiting.
Extras: Water sprays.

(Jean Trinh/For The Times)

The sleek Celes King III Pool is a stunner when it comes to L.A.’s public indoor pool scene. From its high ceilings to the plethora of windows that let in natural sunlight, it never feels cramped inside the airy space. (An added perk is that the locker rooms are modern and clean.) Situated in the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex (formerly called Rancho Cienega), the year-round and heated pool was newly built in 2022 to replace the original one from 1962. The park is also significant since it was the location where Barack Obama held his first L.A. campaign rally in 2007.

The pool is T-shaped with a recreational swimming area on one side, and lap lanes on the other that have designated rows for slow, medium and fast swimmers.

When I stopped by the pool on a weekend, the scene was vibrant: An exercise class was taking place in one corner, folks were jumping off a diving board, and kids were throwing a basketball from the water into a hoop. This aquatic center has become a strong community space, where it gets especially packed on weeknights for its AquaFit Cardio classes. For the youth, there are diving, artistic swimming and water polo teams, and a junior lifeguards program. Sometimes when there are public events held at the pool, instructors may even bring in kayaks as part of the festivities.

Size: T-shaped at 56 feet by 75 feet, and 35 feet by 105 feet.
Swim lanes: 7, depending on programming (no reservations required)
Depth: 3.5 feet to 12.25 feet; diving well 12.25 feet.
Admission: Admission is free for children 2 and younger. The cost is $4 for adults ages 18 to 49 and $1 for children ages 3 to 17, adults 50 and older, and people with disabilities of any age. Payment is cash only, and exact change is preferred.
Parking: Free parking in lot.
Hours: Typical hours are weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 4:50 p.m., but check the website before visiting.
Extras: Diving board and basketball hoop.

(Maddie Connors/For The Times)

A perfect pool, in my opinion, evokes childhood memories. The best pools seem to transport you into a John Hughes film — flirtatious glances, college admissions, spats with stepparents. Built in 2019, the El Segundo Aquatic Center achieves exactly that: a pool so idyllic it seems like a film set. Children run about in glee beneath the summer sun. Blue-and-white flags are strung above the pool, occasionally rippling in the wind. Dutiful lifeguards, dressed in red and white, sit perched above the water. In the distance, chrome bleachers overlook the pool deck. In fact, the facility’s only fault may be its view of a nearby industrial complex. The aquatic center is divided into three pools and offers classes for both adults and children, ranging from basic recreational swimming to water aerobics. Some of the pools feature lane dividers for lap swimming. A newly built locker room includes well-maintained bathrooms, changing stalls and showers. The pool is open every day at staggered times. The facility also offers ample, convenient parking.

Size of pool: 50 meters x 25 meters
Depth: 6.5 feet to 13.5 feet, Instructional pool: 2 feet to 4.5 feet
Swim lanes: 20 lanes
Admission: Adults: $7 for nonresidents, $5 for residents. Military, seniors and youth: $5 for nonresidents, $3 for residents.
Parking: Free lot.
Hours: Monday-Sunday, 6 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Extras: Senior, youth, and toddler aquatics classes, occasional evening swim schedules available upon request.

(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)

Home of the Sea Monsters, the heated indoor pool at Westwood Recreation Center is a no-frills workhorse for those looking to get in, get out and actually find parking. It’s not fancy, but it is functional. On any given day, the pool cycles through a wide range of uses: water polo scrimmages, aqua jogging and aqua HIIT classes, plus steady lap swimming and diving. Sometimes there’s music played through the underground speakers.

In summer, the pool shifts into high gear with “Camp Splash,” a youth program that fills the shallow end with swim lessons, games and nonstop activity. It also serves as a training site for the PlayLA Aquatics USA Swim Team, a city-sponsored, low-cost competitive program for kids ages 3 to 17, with a focus on both dry-land conditioning and in-water practice several times a week.

Size: 25 meters x 25 yards
Swim lanes: 6 lanes
Depth: 3.5 feet in shallow; 9.5 feet in the deep
Admission: Cash only. $1 for children, seniors and people with disabilities; $4 for adults ages 18–49. A Youth Summer Swim Pass ($10) provides unlimited admission to L.A. City pools from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Parking: Free outdoor parking lot.
Hours: Lap swim is typically offered early mornings and evenings Monday through Friday (6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.), with weekend morning sessions (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Recreational swim runs in the afternoons, including weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. Schedules may shift, so check ahead before visiting.

(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times )

With views of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Hon. John J. Kennedy pool makes you feel like you’re on vacation — not doing laps at a city pool. Located just a few miles from the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center’s Olympic-sized pools, the much smaller Pasadena pool, which opened in 2023, offers an affordable, relaxed place to swim.

The 25-foot-long pool has four lanes and is heated to 90 degrees, which may feel a bit warm to some. Still, the atmosphere is welcoming, with friendly staff and lifeguards, pop music reverberating throughout the deck, and no-nonsense amenities like outdoor showers and family-friendly, gender-neutral bathrooms with changing tables. The pool is open year-round and offers lap swimming, water aerobics, swim lessons and recreational swimming for all ages. There’s a gently sloped walk-in entry for easy access for kids and seniors and a 9-foot-deep end for lifeguard training. While shade is limited on the deck, a few canopies over the bleachers offer a place to cool off, watch your kids or just pretend you’re worlds away from it all.

Size: 25-meter pool spanning 4,141 square feet.
Swim lanes: 4
Depth: Zero-depth entry to 9 feet deep.
Admission: $5 for lap swimming ($2 for Pasadena residents)
Parking: Free.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Recreation Swim (free to the public): 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Lap swimming and water fitness: 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday (water exercise also has an evening session from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.); 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday.