SPRINGFIELD, MO — The Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s six outdoor pools open for the summer season Memorial Day weekend, then follow an expanded schedule with more swimming days than 2022.

The opening weekend schedule includes:

  • Saturday, May 27: Fassnight Pool and Meador Pool are open 1-6:30 p.m., and McGee-McGregor Wading Pool is open 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3-6 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 28: Grant Beach and Fassnight pool are open 1-6:30 p.m.
  • Monday, May 29: Grant Beach, Silver Springs and Westport pools are open 1-6:30 p.m., with an all-day discount Splash & Sizzle event for Memorial Day. Splash & Sizzle admission is $1/All ages or FREE with a canned food donation, benefitting Ozarks Food Harvest. 

After opening weekend, outdoor pools follow a regular weekly schedule, found at ParkBoard.org/Aquatics. This season, all locations are open three or four days a week, expanded from 2022, when pools operated two or three days a week. Fassnight and Grant Beach, the two busiest pools, are open four days a week. 

LIFEGUARDS

The expanded schedule has been made possible due to the increased availability of lifeguards. This year, more experienced lifeguards have returned for another season with the Park Board, and more new lifeguards have signed up to be trained and certified, than before the pandemic. The Park Board still has lifeguard position openings, and one final Lifeguard Training session is scheduled for the season, June 9-11, at Chesterfield Family Center. Registration is $160-$170 and scholarships may be available. Prospective lifeguards must be age 15 or older, a strong swimmer, and must complete training and certification.

SAFETY

Two new safety precautions have been implemented at outdoor pools this season. Outdoor pool customers are strongly advised to establish a Pool Connection digital photo ID, a free digital ID used to check in customers, which includes their name, address, phone number, picture and emergency contact information. The process has two steps: creation of an ActiveNet account, which may be filled out online or on paper; and an in-person visit to a family center our outdoor pool to complete the Pool Connection. (New Pool Connections are not available for same-day activation at outdoor pool entrances.) The Pool Connection is recommended, but not required for customers.

Another safety precaution implemented this summer: no customers ages 11 years and under will be admitted to an outdoor pool without an adult, age 18 and older, present. The previous minimum age to visit the pool without adult supervision was 9 years. This change matches the age requirements already in place at family centers and indoor pools. Customers ages 12 to 17 years may visit an outdoor pool without an adult present. 

ADMISSION

Pool admission fees remain the same as 2022:

  • $4/Youth 3-17 yrs., and seniors 60 yrs. and older; 
  • $5/Adults 18-59 yrs. 
  • Free/Children ages 2 and under, who are not required to have a Pool Connection.
  • Discount Splash & Sizzle admission is $1, or free admission with a canned food donation, all ages, every day after 5:30 p.m., and on select holidays, check schedule for details. Donations benefit Ozark Food Harvest. 
  • Admission is free to McGee-McGregor Wading Pool, which is for kids age 6 and under only, with an adult.  

Indoor pools at Chesterfield and Doling Family Centers are also open seven days a week, with outdoor admission rates offered Monday-Thursday, 1-8 p.m., no discounts. Regular indoor admission is charged Friday-Sunday, $10/adults, $7/kids and seniors. 

SEASON PASSES AND COUPON BOOKS

Outdoor Pool Season Passes are available for the first time since 2019. Season passes are digital this year, not a physical card, offering unlimited entry to outdoor pools, and indoor pools, Mon.-Thurs. only, 1-8 p.m., for a specific individual or family. Season passes are valid for the 2023 summer season, May 27-Sept. 4. Season pass holders check in at the pool gate. A photo ID is required to purchase, and a picture will be taken of each pass holder. Scholarships may be available. Purchase Season Passes at Chesterfield, Doling or Dan Kinney family centers, or online. Prices are:

  • $80/Youth and Senior, ages 3-17 years and 60 and older
  • $100/Adults, ages 18-59 years
  • $225/Family, includes up to four individuals, no more than two may be 18 years or older, and for larger families, $25/Additional child.

Coupon books are also available for the first time since 2019. There are 30 coupons per book, good for all outdoor pool entries as well as indoor pools, Monday-Thursday only, 1-8 p.m., May 29-Sept. 4. Coupons do not expire and may be used by anyone, year to year. Purchase coupon books at Chesterfield and Doling family centers, or the main Parks Administration Office. Prices are:

  • $80/Youth and Senior, ages 3-17 years and 60 and older
  • $100/Adults, ages 18-59 years
  • $90/Family, coupon books include 10 Adult and 20 Youth/Senior coupons 

GENERAL INFO

Detailed information about each pool, lifeguard training, pool rules, Stingrays swim team and more is at ParkBoard.org/Aquatics. For more information, call the Aquatics Hotline at 417-864-2099.  

Another popular Parks water attraction, the Ozarks Stream and Fountain at Jordan Valley Park, is scheduled to open for the season Saturday, May 27. Once open, the fountain operates daily, with jet fountains running every hour, on the hour, 10 a.m.- 9:30 p.m., and a continuous show 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Admission is free to this interactive water feature. No lifeguards are on duty.

For media inquiries, contact Jenny Fillmer Edwards, Public Information Administrator for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, at 417-224-5510. (For safety and security, media is not allowed in the gate of any outdoor pool without clearance through Parks Administration. Please make arrangements before arriving at the pool gate.)  

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