City of Toronto outdoor pools will begin to open this weekend

Today, Mayor John Tory announced that 10 City of Toronto outdoor pools will open early on Saturday, June 12, as the City moves into Step One of the Province of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen. An online reservation system will allow Toronto residents to reserve 45-minute swim sessions in advance. Reservations can be made beginning 8 a.m. on Thursday, June 10.

The 10 outdoor pools that will open on June 12 are:

  • Alex Duff – 779 Crawford St.
  • Monarch Park Pool – 115 Felstead Ave.
  • Heron Park CC – 292 Manse Rd.
  • Grandravine CC – 23 Grandravine Dr.
  • McGregor CC – 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.
  • Parkway Forest CC – 59 Forest Manor Rd.
  • Pine Point – 15 Grierson Rd.
  • Riverdale Park – 550 Broadview Avenue
  • Sunnyside-Gus Ryder – 1755 Lake Shore Blvd. W.     
  • West Mall – 380 The West Mall

These locations will remain open until and including Labour Day, Monday, September 6, and will close for the season at 5 p.m. on that day. The remaining outdoor pools will open for the season on June 19, go to full hours when school is out on June 30, and remain open until Sunday, September 5.

Around 1,950 people – mostly young people - will be working to keep our outdoor pools running throughout the summer.

The City’s wading pools will operate from Wednesday, June 30 to Sunday, September 5. Hours of operation and swim times vary by location and can be reviewed online at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/swimming-splash-pads/.

Reservations for 45-minute outdoor swim sessions must be made in advance online at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/swimming-splash-pads/. Through the system residents can:

  • Log in using existing family and client numbers
  • Create an account online for themselves and members of their family (first- time users)
  • Book leisure swims and lane swims up to one week in advance, one activity per day, per person
  • Cancel a reservation up to one day before the activity is scheduled. Same day cancellations can be made by calling 416-396-7378 and selecting option 1

Blocks of new swim reservation spots are released Thursdays at 8 a.m. for the following Monday to Sunday. A select number of spaces at each outdoor pool location will be held back to ensure swimming remains accessible to people with limited access to the internet. These spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Like last summer, the capacity at outdoor pools will be reduced to 25 per cent to ensure adequate space for physical distancing. Staff have worked closely with Toronto Public Health (TPH) to meet guidelines to ensure people can swim safely at outdoor pools. Patrons visiting the City’s outdoor pools will be required to sign in and provide their first name and an email or phone number to facilitate TPH contact tracing should it be required.

Supervision and/or swimming ability requirements are in place for children under 10 years of age at all City outdoor pools. Leisure swimming is free for all ages. Outdoor lane swim is also free and is open to swimmers seven years and older for swimming continuous lengths or widths. Caregivers are reminded to supervise children at all times.

Media requests to film pools can be accommodated at the following locations:

  • Alex Duff Memorial Outdoor Pool, 779 Crawford St.
  • McGregor Park Outdoor Pool, 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.
  • Monarch Park Outdoor Pool, 115 Felstead Ave.
  • Sunnyside Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool, 1755 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

These designated locations will allow media to film from the pool deck without the need to call in advance. Media access will be allowed at these locations only and media must follow the instructions of staff at the site.

The City began opening its splash pads on May 22, following changes to the Province’s orders allowing select outdoor recreation amenities to operate. Splash pad locations across Toronto will remain open until Sunday, September 19.

While the City’s beaches have remained open for essential exercise, lifeguards were stationed at the City’s designated swimming beaches starting on June 5 to supervise swimming zones. Lifeguard supervision of the swim zones at the City’s designated swimming beaches will wrap up on September 12.

More information on about swimming in the city is available at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/swimming-splash-pads/.

Quotes:

“Thank you to City staff who are working to start opening the City’s outdoor pools early to help Torontonians stay active and healthy despite the heat. This is one more example of the work we're doing to open up the city. I know we are all eager to get on with summer and back to a more normal life in our city. Pools and patios are just days away from opening. We are getting there and that's thanks to the efforts of the vast majority of our residents who are doing the right thing – following the public health advice and getting vaccinated."

- Mayor John Tory

“Providing access to aquatic amenities for Toronto residents will help the City prevent heat-related illnesses and offers another safe option for people to get essential exercise. I encourage residents to take advantage of the opportunity to get outside and cool down this summer.”

- Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee

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