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Best Public Pools In The Bay Area

Swimming Pool (credit: Mandy Cheng/AFP/Getty Images)

The San Francisco Bay Area is fortunate to have an array of public swimming pools offering a range of water activities for all ages. Kids love the warm water and chance to learn to swim like the fish; parents and everyone else can choose from group swims, private lessons, water games and all the healthful benefits spending time in a pool provides. Check out these five pool favorites around the Bay.

Charlie Sava Swimming Pool
2695 19th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 661-6327
sfrecpark.org

Definitely a neighborhood favorite and a welcome addition to the busy 19th Avenue corridor, the Charlie Sava Pool is a great place for city kids and adults to get swimming. Features include a 25-yard, eight-lane multi-purpose pool for laps and competitive swimming, swim lessons and recreational swim. The clean, outdoorsy feel transforms the setting thanks to the large windows and glass ceiling that draw in the light and blue skies, even on San Francisco's famed foggy days. With a wonderfully accommodating schedule, the Charlie Sava Swimming Pool provides an enjoyable recreational environment for everyone. Like the other five San Francisco Recreation and Parks pools, admission costs only $6 per adult and $1 per child.

Giammona Westmoor High Swimming Pool
131 Westmoor Ave.
Daly City, CA 94015
(650) 991-8022
www.dalycity.org

A newer kid in the swimming pool line up, the Giammona Westmoor High School pool opened in 2010, and the praises haven't stopped pouring in. This place is gorgeous with warm water and a water slide, roomy lockers, lots of showers and a variety of accommodations like the spin dry, a handy-dandy dryer that takes the dripping out of soggy swim suits. Giammona is an excellent choice for kids, with a warm water pool, an Afterschool Swim Club, and aquatic programs, lessons and classes that accommodate all ages, beginning with toddlers. Pool parties also available. Visit the website for swim schedule information.

Richmond Plunge
1 E. Richmond Ave.
Richmond, CA 94801
(510) 620-6820
www.ci.richmond.ca.us

Originally built in 1926, the Richmond Plunge, a name of affection, closed for 10 years for a complete remodel and reopened in 2010. This lovingly restored beauty in an historic building gets rave reviews, all fully deserved. Along with the Richmond Swim Center, The Richmond Plunge offers year-round aquatic programs led by professional American Red Cross certified pool staff. In addition, thanks to the renovation, the Richmond Plunge boasts solar heating and non-chlorinated saline water, making it the most eco-friendly pool in the nation. The pool is huge with a shallow area just right for kids. Check here for the full swim schedule.

Mill Valley Recreation Center
Swimming Pool
180 Camino Alto
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 383-1370
www.cityofmillvalley.org

It is wonderful to have a Marin County swimming pool and fitness center for the community right here in Mill Valley. You do not need to be a Mill Valley resident to take advantage of the pool and fitness center, programs and classes: kids' pool parties, splash ball, water aerobics, and family fun nights are some of the highlights here. Pool drop-in use: Adults (19-59)/$9, Seniors (60 +)/$8, Youth (2-18)/$7, slightly higher beyond Mill Valley. Visit the website for complete fee information. Click here for the Aquatics & Fitness Center Guide.

Waterworks Aquatics
1120 S. Bascom Ave.
San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 279-1700
waterworksswim.com

A foremost swim school for ages 3 months through adult, Waterworks Aquatics has a mission to motivate people of all ages to learn to swim safely. The Waterworks San Jose facility is a state-of-the-art indoor facility with two heated pools: a large teaching pool, with a perfect set up for children, heated up to 93 degrees all year long, and a lap pool at 25 yards long with 7 lanes, and heated up to 89 degrees all year round. Waterworks Aquatic offers tons of swim lessons, including private, semi-private, parent and me, stroke victim, and adult. Swim programs such as Swim Competitions, Water Polo, Lap Swim, Girl Scouts and a Lifesaving Workshop. Pricing is by Lesson Packages, and Monthly Billing. Click here for pricing options.

Melanie Graysmith is a writer, artist and educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She writes on adult education, art and culture, business, and lifestyle topics, and enjoys writing short stories and poetry. She is also a part of the Bay Area independent film making community. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.


 

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