Pump up your heart and tone muscles as you swim away from stress at one of the 23 outdoor swimming pools open June 6. Swimming lessons, water aerobics and private rentals available.

Swimming lessons
Register at the pools offering lessons beginning June 6. Learning to swim is an important skill for all youngsters—for safety and for health. The Parks and Recreation Department offers morning classes at 12 pools during the 2009 outdoor pool season.

Session dates are June 16-26, July 7-17, and July 21-31. Classes are held Wednesday through Friday for 45 minutes each ay for two weeks for a total of eight sessions.

Pools offering lessons include: Dellview, 500 Basswood, Garza, 5800 Hemphill, Joe Ward, 435 E. Sunshine, Kennedy, 3299 S.W. 38th, Lady Bird Johnson, 10700 Nacogdoches, Kingsborough, 350 Felps, New Territories, 9023 Bowen, San Pedro, 2200 N. Flores, Spring Time, 6571 Spring Time, South Side Lions, 3100 Hiawatha, Westwood, 7601 N.W. Military, and Woodlawn, 1103 Cincinnati.

Choose the right level for your child according to age and ability:
Levels 1 – 4 are taught for ages 4 to 12.
Ages 4- 7, 10:30 – 11 a.m., Level I - No prerequisites. Little or no experience in the water. Level II – At the end of the course, they will be comfortable in the water, be able to flat on their front and back, know the basic water safety rules and be introduced to arm strokes.

Ages 8 – 12, 11:30 – 12 noon, Level I – Starter class for older children to learn elementary skills including floating and basic water safety rules. Level II – Float on front and back, flutter kick and do arm strokes with breathing on their front and back for 10 yards.

Ages 7 – 12 – 12:30 – 1 p.m. – Level III – Able to retrieve objects from the bottom of the pool, swim 25 yards of front and back crawl. Level IV – continue to develop their front and back crawl skills, learn alternative kicks for treading water and swim 50 yards in backstroke and front crawl.

The cost is $25.

Some classes are also offered in the evening at five pools. These are Dellview, Lady Bird Johnson, New Territories, and Springtime. Evening classes include Beginner 1 (4 – 8 years) from 7 to 7:30 p.m. and Beginner II (8 – 12 years) from 7:45 to 8:15 p.m. The cost is $25.

Pool Rentals
What a great way to celebrate a birthday, family reunion or other social events. Rentals are available only before or after normal operating hours when the pools are not open to the public. San Pedro Pool is not available for rental. In addition to rental fees, people renting the pools must pay for lifeguards. The number of lifeguards is determined based on the number of guests using the facility and the pool being rented. The fees are: 1 - 50 people - $110 plus $90 for 3 staff; 51-100 people, $135 plus $120 for 4 staff; and 101-150 people - $160 plus $150 for 5 staff, 151 to 200 people, $185 plus $18 for six staff; and 201 to 250 people, $210 plus $210 for 7 staff.

Pool Reservation Application

Swim Teams
Each summer the Parks and Recreation Department offers a competitive swim program at all outdoor pools. The cost is $5. Each pool has a team for children and adults. Participants practice every day in order to compete against other pools each weekend. The teams are part of the Texas Amateur Athletics Federation (TAAF).

San Antonio Natatorium
1430 W. Durango
226-8541

Saturday

Adult Lap Swim 11 a.m. – 12 noon
General Public 12 noon – 6:30 p.m.

Private lessons
Private Swim lessons are also available for all levels starting at age 4. Four 30-minute lessons with one-on-one insturction are avaialble for $25. Classes are offered Tuesday and Thursday between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Call to schedule a class.

Water Aerobics
Water Aerobics are offered Monday through Thursday from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. A monthly pass is available for $25. Get your passes one month prior on the 3rd Saturday at 10 a.m.

Pool Locator Map

For more information, call 210-207-3113. You may call the outdoor pools directly during the summer season. Their locations and telephone numbers are:

Swimming activities are also available at Palo Alto Natatorium, which the City of San Antonio co-owns with the Alamo Community College District.

Palo Alto:

1400 W. Villaret
210-921-5234


Open Monday through Saturday
This natatorium is open to the public for open swim and lap swim. The schedule varies depending on classes and swim meets. Please call 921-5234 for the current schedule.

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Comments can be sent to kirvin@sanantonio.gov.