The City of Edmonton has announced the opening of its outdoor pools and spray parks for the 2026 season. The first facilities will open starting Friday, May 15, 2026, according to a news release from the city.
Staggered Openings for Facilities
The city will open aquatic facilities in phases. All district spray parks, including Jackie Parker and Castle Downs, will open on Friday, May 15. The remaining spray parks will open on June 5. A map of all 78 spray parks across the city is being updated with their operating status and hours.
Christina Chu, with the City of Edmonton, explained the staggered approach. “Our city’s five outdoor pools have always opened in sequence, rather than all at once. This is to help operations set up and for staff allocations.”
Outdoor Pool Opening Dates
The first outdoor pool to open will be the Wîhkwêntôwin Outdoor Pool on May 20. It will be followed by the Mill Creek Outdoor Swimming Pool on May 23, and the Queen Elizabeth Outdoor Pool on May 30. Fred Broadstock and the Borden Natural Swimming Pool will open on June 6 and June 20, respectively.
Chu noted that the city usually aims to open at least one outdoor pool by the May long weekend, but this year’s opening is delayed due to late snowfall in late April.
Reservations and Concession Changes
While reservations are not mandatory, Chu recommends making them, especially on warm spring and summer days, to avoid lines and guarantee access. A key change for 2026 is that payment is now required one day before the reservation time, with a deadline of 11:59 p.m.
“Having advance payment helps staff understand our capacity so we can let in drop-in participants into the pools earlier,” Chu said. “In previous years, some people would make the reservation but didn’t show up. Patrons can pay in advance to hold the spot and still request a refund up to one minute before their time slot if they need to cancel.”
The city has also decided to remove concession stands from outdoor pool sites. Patrons are asked to bring their own food and empty water bottles. Chu said the decision came after noticing decreasing interest in concessions. However, the city is looking into procuring vending machines with a variety of options and inviting food vendors, such as food trucks, to set up in parking lots on hot and busy days.
Operating hours and availability of outdoor pools and spray parks depend on weather conditions. Residents can check the city’s facility notifications page for updates on weather-related closures.
