Baltimore pools reopen with new schedule, operating hours for summer 2025
Six Baltimore pools opened on weekends only beginning Saturday, May 24, with new operating hours and a weekly closure schedule for maintenance.
Druid Hill, Lake Clifton, Riverside, Patterson, Roosevelt, and Cherry Hill will all open on Saturday and continue to operate on weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
During the 2025 season, park pools will close once a week to allow for maintenance.
"All pools need to rest, especially pools like ours that get a lot of heavy use in the summertime," Mayor Brandon Scott said to reporters on Wednesday.
Druid Hill, Lake Clifton and Riverside will close on Mondays, while Patterson, Roosevelt, and Cherry Hill will close on Tuesdays.
Full operating hours for both neighborhood and park pools begin June 17.
Neighborhood pools will operate Monday through Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Park pools will expand their schedule starting June 17, operating Monday through Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Weekend hours remain 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Pool Rules
Baltimore City Recreation & Parks will continue its bag-free policy to ensure a safe environment for all.
Pool-goers must store personal items in free lockers at each facility, as bags are not permitted on the pool deck. In addition, proper swim attire is required at all locations.
All City pools are free to access, but advance registration is required. Residents can sign up, view schedules, and explore programming here.
Pool visitors are encouraged to review full rules, guidelines and up-to-date information on pool locations, hours of operation, programming, and safety rules here or by following @RecnParks on social media platforms.
Baltimore upgrades community pools
Throughout 2024, the city made upgrades to multiple community pools.
"We actually are in a good place. Our teams have been proactively hiring and recruiting – we feel like we are really in a good place and we should be fine for lifeguards this year," Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, deputy director of recreation explained.
Patterson Park Pool reopened in May 2024 after being closed the previous summer for extensive renovations. The closure angered community members due to the sweltering heat in August 2023.
The pool now features a brand-new mechanical system, piping, plumbing, drains, and pool liner.
The mechanical room was also upgraded to prevent flooding.
The Patterson Park reopening marked the first time in several years that all six park pools opened on schedule.
"I am excited to have a safe, fun summer and I look forward to seeing all of you at one of our facilities," Chief of Aquatics Nikki Cobbs said.
Why the focus on maintenance?
The city's Department of Recreation and Parks has prioritized extensive renovations and repairs to address aging infrastructure as most city pools are over 50 years old.
The department said that safety, not funding, was the main concern driving the upgrades and closures in 2023.
Previous years saw community frustration over pool closures, prompting the city to develop a comprehensive plan to address pool needs citywide.
