Philly pools to start opening Friday, just in time for the heat
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's office has not yet released a schedule for public pool openings, which will begin Friday
Philadelphia will begin opening pools across the city Friday, just in time for an uncomfortable heat wave.
Public pools will begin opening on a rolling basis on Friday, the city announced. No word yet on which pools will open first, and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why can’t Philadelphia open all its pools at once? As with previous years, it’s all based on lifeguard staffing. The more lifeguards the city hires and trains, the more pools it can open.
More than 60 public pools are expected to open throughout the summer, the city said, up from 41 pools in 2025. It took until July 7 for the final pools to open for the season last year.
The pools will open amid a heat emergency in Philadelphia, with temperatures expected to top 90 degrees through Friday and could extend into the weekend if the high temperatures linger. The all-time high temperature for both Thursday and Friday in Philly, 95 degrees, could be threatened.
“The Health Department declares a Heat Health Emergency when the temperature gets high enough that vulnerable people — especially our elderly neighbors and family members — are at an increased risk of getting sick or dying from the heat,” Health Commissioner Palak Raval-Nelson said in a statement.
To find pool hours, swimming lessons, or accessibility details, visit the Parks & Rec Finder App at phila.gov/parks-rec-finder.
This story will be updated when the city releases more information on pool openings.
