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Let’s face it. There’s no better way to beat the heat than to dive into a pool, dance on a spray pad or dip your toes into the ocean. And fortunately for Connecticut residents, we have plenty of ways to get wet!
Back by popular demand, it’s our Hartford County Community Pools Guide. This year it’s updated and expanded to include pools, spray pads, beaches, and other water activities around the state.
Pools and Spray Pads in Hartford County
- Sycamore Hills Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Saturday, 6/8/13; closes Monday, 9/2/13)
- 635 West Avon Road
- Check the schedule for recreational swim times
- Available to residents ($5/person) and non-residents ($7/person); Non-walking children are FREE
- The facility includes one main pool and a separate kiddie pool
- Click here for more information about daily rates, schedules, and season passes or call 860-673-5696
Colchester
- RecPlex Spray Park (Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
- FREE to residents and non-residents
- Open 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Check out the nearby playground
Glastonbury
- Addison Park Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Sunday, 6/9/13)
- Addison Road
- Monday to Friday recreational swim starts at 12:30; Saturday & Sunday recreational swim starts at 10:30 a.m. Click here for the complete schedule (scroll down to page 27).
- Available to residents ($2/child (under 2 free); $4/adult) and non-residents (double the resident fees).
- The L-shaped pool has a zero depth entry that is perfect for little ones; facility also includes a separate, completely fenced-in area with a wading pool and a “spray mushroom”. Click here to see our pictures of Addison Park pool and wading pool.
- Also visit the nearby Addison Park Boundless Playground (open dawn to dusk).
- Eastbury Pond (Opens for the season Saturday, 6/15/13)
- Fisher Hill Road
- Recreational swim starts daily at 10:30 a.m. Click here for the complete schedule (scroll down to page 27).
- Available to residents (parking fee is $4/weekday and $6/weekend; walk or bike in is FREE) and non-residents (double the resident fees).
- Beach-type setting; gradually sloped sandy beach is great for toddlers and small children.
- Bring your own chairs, blankets to sit on, etc.
- Read about our visit to Eastbury Pond here.
- Grange Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Saturday, 6/15/13)
- Hopewell Road
- Monday to Friday recreational swim starts at 12:30 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday recreational swim starts at noon. Click here for the complete schedule (scroll down to page 27).
- Available to residents ($2/child (under 2 free); $4/adult) and non-residents (double the resident fees).
- The facility also includes a wading pool.
- Glastonbury High School Pool
- Hubbard Street
- Click here for the complete schedule (scroll down to page 27).
- Available to residents only
Click here to access the complete Glastonbury pools schedule or call 860-656-7679 for more information.
Newington
- Churchill Park Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Monday, 6/24/13)
- Main Street
- Monday to Thursday recreational swim starts at noon; Fridays recreational swim starts at 10:00 a.m.; Saturday & Sunday recreational swim starts at noon. Click here for the complete Newington Pools schedule (scroll down to page 8).
- Available to residents and their non-resident guests only ($5/adult and $3/child; same rate for non-resident guests).
- Mill Pond Park Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Monday, 6/24/13)
- Garfield Street
- Monday to Thursday recreational swim starts at 2:00 p.m.; Friday recreational swim starts at 10:00 a.m.; Saturday & Sunday recreational swim starts at 2:00 p.m. Click here for the complete Newington Pools schedule (scroll down to page 8).
- Available to residents and their non-resident guests only ($5/adult and $3/child; same rate for non-resident guests).
- Also visit the nearby Boundless Playground (Open dawn to dusk).
Click here for the complete Newington Pools schedule (scroll down to page 8 ) or call 860-665-8666 for more information.
Rocky Hill
- David Moser Memorial Outdoor Pool at Elm Ridge Park (Opens for the season on Sunday, 6/23/13)
- Elm Street
- Monday-Friday recreational swim starts at noon; Saturday & Sunday recreational swim starts at 11:00 a.m.
- Available to residents ($2 per person) and non-residents ($5 per person).
- Adjacent wading pool opens at 12:00 p.m. on Monday to Friday and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday & Sunday.
- Also check out the nearby Elm Ridge Park playground (open dawn to dusk).
- Access the full pool schedule here (p.13) or call 860-258-2772 for more information.
- Veteran’s Memorial Park Outdoor Pool (Opened 5/25/13 for the season)
- 575 Pleasant Valley Road
- Limited recreational swim hours from now until June 21st (starts at 2:00 p.m. on weekdays; 11:00 on weekends)
- Beginning June 22nd, Monday to Friday recreational swim starts at noon; Saturday & Sunday recreational swim starts at 11:00 a.m. Click here for the complete schedule.
- Available to residents ($3/child; $6/adult; children under 3 are FREE) and non-residents ($5/child; $9/adult; children under 3 are FREE). Click here for the full rate schedule including season passes.
- Three pools including the main pool with a zero depth entry ramp that goes up to about 2 feet and then is roped off. It also contains a lap pool and a diving well. There is also a separate lap pool and a separate wading/kiddie pool.
- The pools are stroller accessible from both the front and back entrances.
- Snack bar available at the back entrance.
- There are picnic tables at the facility, but chairs are limited so it’s a good idea to bring your own seating.
- Call 860-289-1333 for more information (summer only).
West Hartford
- Beachland Park and Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Saturday, 6/22/13)
- 847 South Quaker Lane
- Recreational swim starts daily at 1:00 p.m.
- Available to residents (Day rates: $3.25/child; $4/adult; $3.25/senior) and non-residents ($5.50/child; $6.50/adult; $6.50/senior).
- Facility also includes a wading pool for little ones up to age 6 and use of the wading pool is FREE to both residents and non-residents. The wading pool opens at 10:00 a.m. on Monday through Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday.
- Eisenhower Park and Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Saturday, 6/22/13)
- 33 Sheep Hill Drive
- Recreational swim starts daily at 1:00 p.m.
- Available to residents (Day rates: $3.25/child; $4/adult; $3.25/senior) and non-residents ($5.50/child; $6.50/adult; $6.50/senior).
- Fernridge Park and Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Saturday, 6/22/13)
- 567 Fern Street
- Recreational swim starts daily at 1:00 p.m.
- Available to residents (Day rates: $3.25/child; $4/adult; $3.25/senior) and non-residents ($5.50/child; $6.50/adult; $6.50/senior).
- Recently renovated (last year) to include a new pool with a zero depth entry perfect for little ones and a spray pad for children up to age 8. Spray pad opens daily at 10:00 a.m. Use of the spray pad is FREE to both residents and non-residents.*
- Read our post about Fernridge Park Pool here.
- Kennedy Park and Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Saturday, 6/22/13)
- 160 Oakwood Avenue
- Recreational swim starts daily at 1:00 p.m.
- Available to residents (Day rates: $3.25/child; $4/adult; $3.25/senior) and non-residents ($5.50/child; $6.50/adult; $6.50/senior).
- Facility also includes a spray pad for children up to age 8. Use of the spray pad is FREE for both residents and non-residents. Spray pad opens daily at 10:00 a.m.*
- Wolcott Park Spray Pad (Currently open)
- 1134 New Britain Avenue
- Spray pad opens daily at 10:00 a.m.*
- FREE for residents and non-residents.
- For little ones up to age 8.
- Don’t forget to read our posts about the spray pad and nearby playground.
- Mill Woods Pond (Opens for the season Sunday, 6/23/13)
- Prospect Street & Wolcott Hill Road
- Recreational swim starts daily at 1:00 p.m.
- Available to residents and their non-resident guests only ($3/adult and $1/child (under 18); same rates apply for non-resident guests).
- Man-made pond/beach-type setting.
- Wading area open during Recreational & Family swim times as well as during AM swim lessons on Monday to Thursday. (From Friday to Sunday the wading area does not open until recreational swim starts at 1:00 p.m.)
- Willard Outdoor Pool (Opens for the season Sunday, 6/23/13)
- Greenfield Street
- Recreational swim starts daily at 1:00 p.m.
- Available to residents and their non-resident guests only ($3/adult and $1/child (under 18); same rates apply for non-resident guests).
- Wading area open during Recreational, Adult & Family swim times as well as during AM swim lessons on Monday to Thursday. (From Friday to Sunday the wading area does not open until recreational swim starts at 1:00 p.m.)
- Clinton Town Beach (Clinton, CT)
- Check out our post about the fabulous beach-side playground, plus a mini tour of the beach
- Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison, CT)
- Read our post about this destination
- The Mandell JCC’s Swim & Tennis Club (Bloomfield, CT)
- Considering joining a private swim club this summer? Read our review of this family-friendly favorite
- Stay and Play (Old Saybrook, CT)
- Their giant inflatable waterslides open on June 22nd
- Also check out our post about their HUGE indoor play facility
As you may know, Mandy and I live in the Hartford area, so many of our posts are about places in central Connecticut. But we are always looking to expand our lists to encompass more of the state. If you know of a great pool/spray pad/water activity that we’ve missed (and I’m sure there are LOTS), please let us and other readers know by commenting below. You know how they say it takes a village to raise a child? Well, it also takes a village to find entertainment for them 🙂 Thanks!
Want more information on OAAM destinations? Click here for links to all the places we’ve been.
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