Nothing says summer like jumping into a cool, refreshing pool.
Don’t have one at home? No problem. From converted dumpsters (yeah, you read that right) to city and county pools, there are tons of places to beat the heat.
Let’s start with converted dumpsters.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is kicking off the summer season with its Mobile Pools exhibit, which includes three code-compliant, street-legal mobile dumpster pools that will be set up in the Great Hall.
This is more than an exhibit. Members of the museum can swim in the pools from June 20 to Sept. 26 during museum hours. The pools will also serve as a platform for summer programming, such as film screenings, concerts, dance and circus productions and more.
“There is a lot of excitement about the pools,” said Jocko Weyland, curator of the museum, in an email interview. “After the summer we are going to sell them and hopefully they will stay downtown.”
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Not a museum member? The city of Tucson and Pima County have a combined total of 26 public pools to keep you from melting as temperatures inch their way up to the triple digits.
And pool season has officially started, meaning city and county pools are now open.
The Quincie Douglas pool, which features a water slide, toys, splash pad, lap pool and a beach entry, is the city’s most popular one, says Billy Sassi, pool supervisor.
Popular Pima County pools include NWYMCA-Thad Terry, Manzanita and Wade McLean, with 500 to 1,000 people attending “on peak days in the summer,” said Grant Bourguet, recreation program manager for Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation.
Make sure and watch for the “Ghost Ship.” The 57-foot long inflatable obstacle course will make stops at seven of the county’s public pools during the summer.
If water slides are more your thing, there’s Breakers Water Park. Lay out, float in the giant wave pool or hit the slides. The park is kid-friendly, with a whole area for the little ones.
Below is your go-to list of places to cool off this summer.
City of Tucson pools
It’ll cost you $2 for adults and $1 for kids to swim at city pools. There’s a discount program if you qualify.
Swim lessons are offered in four two-week sessions at all city pools during June and July for $15.
Check tucsonaz.gov/parks to learn more.
Amphitheater Pool, 125 W. Yavapai Road.
Located on the campus of Amphitheater High School. Two diving boards and shade structures. 791-4359.
Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center, 3455 E. Zoo Court.
Fully accessible outdoor covered recreational pool with a beach entry, play features, lap lanes, a walking channel with a current, and a heated deck. The indoor therapy pool is heated to approximately 92 degrees and has a bench with jets, handrails, two types of lifts to allow for total accessibility and depths from 2½ to 6 feet. Open year-round. 791-5643.
Archer Pool, 1665 S. La Cholla Boulevard.
Diving board, water slide, shade structure and separate wading pool. Shallowest water is 4 feet deep. 791-5388.
Catalina Pool, 2004 N. Dodge Blvd.
Competitive pool with two diving boards and depths ranging from 4 to 13½feet, shade structure and grassy area is immediately south of a children’s area with playground equipment and picnic tables. Open year-round. 791-4245.
Clements Pool, 8155 E. Poinciana Drive.
Beach entry, 25-yard competitive course with seven lanes, diving area with a 1-meter board, water slide, shade structure and grassy area. Open year-round. 791-5785.
El Pueblo Pool, 5100 S. Missiondale Road.
Water slide, 25-yard course for lap swimming, shallow water area with a 2½-foot depth, and shade structure. The deepest water is 6 feet. 791-4176.
Escalante Pool, 6900 E. Nicaragua Drive.
A 25-yard pool with a diving bay and two diving boards. The shallow area of the pool ranges from 3 to 5 feet in depth. Separate wading pool for toddlers. 791-5930.
Ft. Lowell Pool, 2900 N. Craycroft Road.
Diving bay with two diving boards, lap lanes in the 25-yard area and separate wading pool. 791-2585.
Himmel Pool, 1000 N. Tucson Blvd.
The 25-yard pool features a diving board, depth of 3½ to 11 feet, accessible stairs and grassy area with ramadas. Separate wading pool with beach entry. 791-4157.
Jacobs Pool, 3300 N. Fairview Ave.
Single-pool facility with depths ranging from zero to 4 feet with beach-style entry, two water cannons that spray into the pool and a water-spray area off the pool. 791-4358.
Mansfield Pool, 2000 N. Fourth Ave.
Three-pool complex featuring a diving bay with two diving boards, wading pool, central pool with a water slide, depths ranging from 3 to 5 feet, and a shaded area. 791-4405.
Menlo Pool, 1100 W. Fresno St.
Main pool ranges from 3½ to 12 feet in depth and features a water slide. Separate wading pool is 2 feet deep. 791-4356.
Palo Verde Pool, 300 S. Mann Ave.
Three-pool complex features a main pool with depths ranging from 3 to 5 feet, a diving pool with two diving boards and a 1½-foot-deep wading pool. 791-4375.
Purple Heart Pool, 10050 E. Rita Road.
Stair entry leads to a shallow water area. The depth gradually increases to 6 feet in the 25-yard lap swim area. 791-5058.
Quincie Douglas, 1563 E. 36th St.
Water slide, spray and splash features a 25-yard competitive course, beach entry, separate splash pad and shaded grassy area. 791-5941.
Sunnyside Pool, 1725 E. Bilby Road.
Two diving boards, with depths ranging from 4 to 13½ feet and nearby ramada. 791-5167.
Udall Pool, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road.
Depths range from 4 to 13½ feet and has a portable ramp entry. A diving area has two diving boards. The lap swimming course is 25 yards. 791-4004.
Pima County pools
The cost to use county pools is $3 for adults and $1 for kids age 17 and under. There is a discount program for those who qualify. Details: pima.gov
Swimming lessons are available for children as young as 6 months. They are offered in two-week sessions of eight classes beginning June 1. Lessons are $20. Register at the pool you wish to use for lessons.
Ajo Pool, 290 Fifth St., Ajo.
Six lap lanes, zero-depth entry, deep end and shaded picnic tables. 387-6555.
Catalina Pool, 16562 N. Oracle Road, Catalina. Four lap lanes, deep end and shaded picnic tables. 825-9011.
Flowing Wells Jr. High School Pool, 4545 N. La Cholla Blvd.
Nine lap lanes, 13½-foot deep end, 1-meter diving board, handicap entry ramp and shaded picnic tables. 696-8671.
Kino Pool (Mulcahy YMCA), 2805 E. Ajo Way. Operated as a partnership between Pima County and YMCA of Southern Arizona. Four lap lanes, slide, deep end, zero-depth entry and shaded benches. 838-0938.
Los Niños Pool, 5432 S. Bryant Ave. Six lap lanes, 12-foot deep end, 1-meter diving board, separate baby pool and shaded picnic tables. 574-0222.
Manzanita Pool, 5110 S. San Joaquin Ave. Six lap lanes, slide, deep end, zero-depth entry, mushroom water feature and grassy areas. 578-2458.
Northwest YMCA-Thad Terry Pool, 7770 N. Shannon Road.
Operated as a partnership between Pima County and YMCA of Southern Arizona. Slide, zero-depth entry and mushroom water feature. 229-9006.
Picture Rocks Pool and Splash Pad, 5615 N. Sanders Road.
Zero-depth entry, multiple water features, splash pad, shaded benches, interactive statues and lots of grass. 682-8465.
Wade McLean Pool, 12000 W. Emigh Road. Eight lap lanes, slide, deep end, zero-depth entry, tumble bucket water feature and lots of grass. 616-6500.
Other places you can hit to cool off
Oro Valley Aquatics Center, 23 W. Calle Concordia, Oro Valley. Four diving boards, interactive and shaded splash pad, water slide, 50-meter competition pool and 25-yard recreation pool. Plus, it has a concession stand. 297-7946.
Brandi Fenton Splash Pad, 3482 E. River Road. This is a great place to cool off if the kids don’t want to swim. It features spray arches, water geysers and lots of other water features. There are also ramadas that can be reserved. Splash pad hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and it’s free.
Marana Pool, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road, at Ora Mae Harn District Park, Marana. Open swim from 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays is free. The pool also hosts Splash ‘N Dash Splash aquathons on June 4 and 18, and July 2, 16 and 30. It’s $5 a person to compete. Details: marana.com/238/Aquatics
Breakers Water Park, 8555 W. Tangerine Road, Marana.
With water slides, a wave pool and kiddie area, there’s something to do for everyone. Admission is $24.95 for ages 12 and up; $18.95 for children ages 4 to 11; $13.95 for ages 60 and over; and free for ages 3 and under. Living Social and Groupon often have deals on admission. 682-2530.
