Houston has 25 pools open in summer 2026
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Two dozen Houston pools are fully staffed with lifeguards this summer, though fewer facilities are currently open than in 2025.
The big picture: As summer heats up, it's welcoming news for a city previously plagued by lifeguard understaffing.
Flashback: In summer 2023, Houston had only 12 pools open at a time due to a persistent lifeguard shortage. By summer 2024, that number was down to nine.
Yes, but: Ahead of summer 2025, the city of Houston lowered the minimum age for lifeguards from 16 to 15 in an effort to open more pools.
- 31 pools were open that year, with the remaining closed for maintenance.
Driving the news: 25 of the city's 37 pools are open this summer, per the city website.
- The pools that are open are "fully staffed with lifeguards," Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) director Kenneth Allen said in a statement to Axios, adding the city is "anticipating the opening of the remaining pools soon."
- HPARD did not disclose how many lifeguard positions remain unfilled or why the remaining pools are closed.
State of play: Houston pools are free and open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Their hours are 1-7pm Tuesday through Saturday, 1-6pm Sunday and 1-5pm on holidays.
- The city offers adult fitness water classes at several pools and is "in negotiations" with a provider to offer swim lessons, but none are currently available, per the city's website.
- Memorial Park's Olympic-size pool is exclusive to lap swimmers 6-10am Tuesday through Friday.
The bottom line: Taking a dip in a city pool might just be the best free way for Houstonians to cool off this summer.