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Summer is here! As the temperatures heat up, we're always looking for a nice place to cool off.
L.A. certainly has its fair share of glitzy hotel pools, but we have also have an oft-overlooked wealth of city-run public pools where you can splash around on the cheap. Here are a few of our favorites.
Culver City Municipal Plunge (Photo by Culver City via Yelp)
THE CULVER CITY MUNICIPAL PLUNGEThis outdoor pool has been operated by Culver City since 1949. It’s particularly lovely and shaded by some big old trees. However, if you are looking for somewhere to splash around, this one’s probably not for you, as the majority of the Olympic-size pool is usually devoted to laps. Saturday and Sunday recreation hours are limited to 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. It's also equipped with diving boards. A 15-visit pass is $35 for Culver City residents and $50 for non-residents. The day rates are $4 for adults, $2.50 for under 18-ers, seniors and persons with disabilities.
"The Plunge" is located at 4175 Overland Ave. in Culver City. (310) 253-6680
Stoner Park Pool (Photo by Sat Y. via Yelp)
STONER PARK POOLDespite the name, this West L.A. pool is arguably the best in L.A. for anyone with kids in tow. It’s practically a water park, if a water park had only one slide, albeit an awesome, twisty one. Fun features include a wild, dripping “mushroom” and gushing water tubes. You also can’t beat the price: it’s free for kids and $2 a day for adults.
Stoner Park Pool is located at 1835 Stoner Ave. in West Los Angeles. (310) 575-8286
The swim stadium, packed with spectators during the 1932 Olympics. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection)
LA84 FOUNDATION/JOHN C. ARGUE SWIM STADIUM
This recently renovated Exposition Park stadium was originally built for the 1932 Olympics, and it still retains a certain Olympian grandness. It also boasts two pools, one for laps and one for play. They also have a shallow wading pool with some kid-friendly water features. Note: as our friends at Swimming in L.A. remind us, this pool hosts more than a few swim meets and competitions, so definitely call ahead before you go to ensure it's not booked out for an event.
Argue Swim Stadium is located at 3980 Bill Robertson Ln. in Exposition Park. (213) 763-0129
Pacific Community Pool (Photo by Skip M. via Yelp)
PACIFIC COMMUNITY POOL
This park and library-adjacent Glendale pool is pretty awesome. There's a nice view of palm trees and the mountains from the water, and it has a giant shallow area for younger swimmers. They also allow pool toys and even have some noodles on hand. And there's also a diving board. Day passes are $3 for adults, and range from free to a dollar for kids, depending on age. A full list of hours can be found here.
Pacific Community Pool is located at 509 S. Pacific Ave. in Glendale. (818) 937-7433
Santa Clarita Aquatics Center (Photos by Mandy H. via Yelp)
SANTA CLARITA AQUATICS CENTER
Okay, we lied. The Santa Clarita Aquatics Center is quite possibly just as much fun as the Stoner Park pool. It may be a trek for many of us, but once you get there this place is a behemoth. The water slide is massive, there is the equivalent of a playground play structure in the kids pool, and they even offer special events during the summer, like "dive-in movie nights." And the kids activity pool is merely one of three pools on the premises—they also have a 25-meter dive pool and a 50-meter competition pool. Day passes are $4 for kids (free for kids under 3) and $6 for adults.
Santa Clarita Aquatics Center is located at 20850 Centre Pointe Pkwy. in Santa Clarita. (661) 250-3740
And finally, the crown jewel of L.A.’s public pools:
The pool at Annenberg Community Beach House. (Photo courtesy of the City of Santa Monica)
ANNENBERG COMMUNITY BEACH HOUSE
The gorgeous, oceanfront facility was originally developed by William Randolph Hearst as a beach house for actress Marion Davies. It was an Old Hollywood hotspot before being converted into a hotel and a limited-membership beach club, and then finally—thanks to Wallis Annenberg—an open-to-the-public gem. The pool is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. through September. Pool rates are Adults $10; Youth $4; Seniors (60+) $5. And "dollar splash" Mondays will set you back a mere buck for a day's admission. First come, first served pool passes go on sale daily at 9:00 a.m. at Guest Services. They also a offer a "sunset swim" the second Friday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the summer.
The Annenberg Community Beach House is located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica. (310) 458-4904
Related:
Everything You Should Know Before You Get Into A Public Pool This Summer
The Best Pools For Lounging In Los Angeles
Where To Get Wet: The Best Pools, Water Parks and Splash Zones
