Jacksonville is cranking open the city’s gates to summer, with 30 community pools set to welcome swimmers over Memorial Day weekend after several seasons of limited neighborhood options.
Mayor Donna Deegan and Daryl Joseph, director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, are expected to formally announce the rollout on Friday, May 22 at Blue Cypress Park Pool. The city says lifeguard starting pay is $15 an hour and it currently has roughly 300 lifeguards on staff.
According to News4JAX, the openings are scheduled to begin Saturday, May 23, with one additional site expected to come online later this summer. Residents who spoke with the station say the difference from last year is obvious. “That’s better than last year. That’s a lot better than last year,” one resident said.
Hours, lessons and registration
The city’s aquatics page lists Memorial Day weekend pool hours as Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m., and Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It also outlines pre-season weekend hours through May 31, along with the regular season schedule that starts Saturday, June 6 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 2.
Registration for the Learn-to-Swim program is already open, and the first session begins June 8. For full details on hours and lessons, visit jacksonville.gov/aquatics.
Which pools open this weekend
The 30 scheduled sites include a mix of high school pools, neighborhood parks and larger centers, with locations such as Andrew Jackson High School, Cecil Aquatic Center, Oceanway Park and Riverside High School among those expected to open, according to News4JAX.
Not every site will be ready in time for the long weekend. Adolph Wurn Pool, Ed White High School and Eartha H. Napoleon Park will remain closed, and Mallison Park Pool is slated to open later this summer at 3133 Lenox Ave.
Jobs and safety
The city says it has approximately 300 lifeguards on staff but is still hiring to make sure all open pools are fully covered. Starting pay is $15 an hour, and interested applicants can call (904) 255-6777 or (904) 255-4272 or email [email protected]. Additional hiring and safety information is available on the city’s aquatics page.
City officials have framed the wave of reopenings as part of an effort since 2023 to put money into pool repairs and staffing so neighborhood pools can reliably open for the season instead of sitting empty in the heat.
Before heading out with towels and sunscreen, residents are encouraged to check JaxParks.com for the latest schedule updates and any weather-related changes.
