Arlington is about to dive into summer as the city's pools and splash pads gear up for Memorial Day Weekend openings. Starting May 24, the Bad Königshofen Family Aquatic Center, Randol Mill Family Aquatic Center, and a trio of free outdoor splash pads will welcome swimmers and splashers, aiming to beat the heat and make a splash, according to an announcement by the Arlington Office of Communication. While soaking under the sun, guests can rotate between the aquatic entertainment through early September, with extended access to splash pads on weekends till the end of the same month.
For those eager to plunge into the deeper end, Allen Bolden Outdoor Pool doesn't quite make the Memorial Day cutoff; instead, it throws open its gates on May 31. Following closely, the Woodland West and Howard Moore pools will start their season on June 1, as noted by the City of Arlington. These smaller pools will wrap up their season earlier, in August.
The swimming festivities come packed with certain rules, though. City facilities will not allow outside food provided by a caterer or restaurant to keep the pool areas less cluttered with refuse. Exceptions will be considered for personal dietary needs, food allergies, and baby nutrition. Personal foodstuffs from home are still on the menu, and concession stands are ready to serve at two of the locations. Visitors hauling coolers larger than 20 inches square will also face a fee, varying based on the pool—$5 at Howard Moore, Woodland West, and Allen Bolden, doubled to $10 at the family aquatic centers in Randol Mill and Bad Königshofen. Inspection of these containers is mandatory, with a stern no-go for glass and alcohol.
Throughout Memorial Day Weekend, varied pool hours offer flexibility for holiday plans. Bad Königshofen Family Aquatic Center will operate from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, transition to a 1-6 p.m. slot on Sunday, and again from noon to 7 p.m. on the holiday Monday itself. A brief pause on Tuesday, and normal service will resume on May 31. Meanwhile, Randol Mill Family Aquatic Center is playing coy on Saturday but will be available from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and noon to 7 p.m. both Monday and Tuesday, with the same pricing as its aquatic sibling—$8 for the vertically challenged under 48 inches, $9 for the taller crowd, and the under-1s splash for free.
For those with a penchant for spontaneous water play minus the pool, Arlington's offering a quartet of splash pads, operational daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend till Labor Day, then weekends through September. Locations include Brantley Hinshaw Park, California Lane Park, Don Misenhimer Park, and The Beacon Recreation Center, which adds a water maze and rentable shelters to the mix. The East Library and Recreation Center has an indoor pool for year-round aquatic enjoyment.
