Mesa residents will soon be able to cool off from Arizona’s summer heat as the City of Mesa prepares to reopen its public swimming pools for the 2026 summer season later this month. City officials announced that all Mesa public pools are scheduled to officially open on May 23 for the start of summer operations.
To celebrate opening weekend, all Mesa pool locations will host special grand opening hours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on May 23, giving families across the city an opportunity to visit the facilities at the same time as the summer season officially begins.
Before the official launch, the city is also holding a soft opening event on Saturday, May 16, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at every Mesa public pool. Officials said the soft opening is intended to give residents an early opportunity to return to the pools ahead of Memorial Day weekend and the start of peak summer temperatures.
According to the City of Mesa, all public pools will offer recreational swimming, lap swimming, water features, and family-friendly amenities throughout the season. Several facilities also include slides, diving boards, lazy rivers, splash areas, shaded seating areas, and additional aquatic attractions depending on the location.
Residents will be able to swim at multiple Mesa aquatic facilities throughout the city, including Brimhall Aquatic Complex at 5035 E. Southern Avenue, Carson Aquatic Complex at 605 N. Westwood, Kino Aquatic Center at 848 N. Horne, Mesa Aquatic Complex at 1630 E. Southern Avenue, Rhodes Aquatic Complex at 1860 S. Longmore, Shepherd Aquatic Complex at 1511 N. Alta Mesa Drive, Skyline Aquatic Center at 845 S. Crismon Road, and Stapley Aquatic Complex at 3250 E. Hermosa Vista.
The city said pool hours will vary slightly by location. Most facilities are expected to operate from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, while Saturday hours will generally run either from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. depending on the specific pool schedule. Skyline Aquatic Center and Rhodes Aquatic Complex will also offer Sunday operations.
Mesa officials announced that all public pools will initially remain open through July 18. However, some facilities will stay open longer than others. Mesa Aquatic Complex, Stapley Aquatic Complex, and Brimhall Aquatic Complex are scheduled to continue regular operations through July 25. Skyline Aquatic Center and Rhodes Aquatic Complex will remain open daily through July 25 before shifting to weekend-only operations through Sept. 6.
The city also confirmed that all pools will be open on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, though all facilities will be closed on Labor Day.
One of the most notable attractions this summer will again be the FlowRider surfing simulator at Rhodes Aquatic Complex. According to city information, the attraction costs $12 for children and $16 for adults for one-hour rides when the safety fence is in place. Prices increase to $14 for children and $22 for adults when the fence is removed. Fenced sessions are not available on Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Mesa Aquatic Complex remains one of the city’s largest and most feature-filled aquatic destinations. The facility includes a lazy river, vortex pool, diving boards, zero-depth entry areas, kiddie slides, shade structures, snack bar access, turf areas, and water play features.
Brimhall Aquatic Complex also offers several major attractions, including two water slides, competition swimming lanes, lap swim areas, shaded seating, lawn areas, and recreational programming such as swim lessons and junior lifeguarding opportunities.
Mesa’s aquatics program continues serving as one of the city’s most popular summer recreation offerings. In addition to public swim sessions, the city offers swim lessons, aquatic sports programs, lifeguard training, recreational swim teams, and family swim passes throughout the season.
The reopening comes as Valley cities prepare for another summer of extreme temperatures across Arizona. Public pools throughout the Phoenix metro area traditionally become major community gathering spaces during the hottest months of the year as residents search for affordable ways to stay cool outdoors.
Mesa officials are also continuing to promote water safety awareness as part of the summer pool season. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has scheduled additional aquatic safety events and family programming throughout the summer months to encourage safe swimming practices among children and families.
Source: AZFamily
