As temperatures rise, Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) and Buncombe County Parks & Recreation (BCPR) public pools offer cool, safe, and affordable fun for community members of all ages. APR’s outdoor pool at Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center and BCPR’s five outdoor pools located throughout the county open on May 23. APR’s popular free splash pad in Pack Square Park, Splasheville, is already open.
Individual pools may close temporarily or for the day when lightning is reported within 10 miles for safety.
Pool Locations
- Central: Grant Southside Center Pool is located on 285 Livingston St. in Asheville
- North: North Buncombe Pool is located on 734 Clarks Chapel Rd. in Weaverville
- West: Erwin Pool is located on 58 Lees Creek Rd. in Asheville
- West: Hominy Valley Pool is located on 25 Twin Lakes Rd. in Candler
- East: Owen Pool is located on 117 Stone Dr. in Swannanoa
- South: Cane Creek Pool is located on 590 Lower Brush Creek Rd. in Fletcher
- Central: Splasheville is located in Pack Square Park on 80 Court Plaza in Asheville. The free splash pad’s regular daily hours are 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m., but may be closed for special events or during inclement weather.
Grant Southside Center Pool Hours and Admission
The Grant Southside Center pool is open May 23-25 and then on weekends only through June 7 and after August 23. It operates seven days a week from June 13-August 23. The pool closes for the season at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 7.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Free adult water aerobics class on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m. (no class on July 4)
- Sunday: 12 to 7 p.m.
- Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Admission is $3.00 per person per day
- Season passes may be purchased for $100 per individual or $150 for a family of up to four individuals
BCPR Pool Hours and Admission
BCPR pools are open May 23-25 and then on weekends only through June 7. They operate seven days a week from June 11-August 9. Erwin Pool has an extended season and remains open on weekends only from August 15-30.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 to 6 p.m.
- Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Erwin, Hominy Valley, and Cane Creek pools close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday
- Admission is $4.00 per person per day
Swim Lessons and After Hours Parties
Both system’s public pools are managed through an agreement with Swim Club Management Group of Asheville which oversees maintenance, hires staff, and handles daily operations. Community members can sign up for swim lessons and book private parties on the management group’s websites, ashevillecitypools.com and buncombepool.com.
What’s Next for APR Pools?
The area’s largest pool in Recreation Park experienced catastrophic destruction from Tropical Storm Helene. Part of the Azalea Parks and Infrastructure Recovery project, the City of Asheville plans to unveil a design for the pool and surrounding parks and public spaces this summer.
Asheville voters overwhelmingly approved a general obligation (GO) bond referendum allocating up to $20 million for parks and recreation improvements throughout the city including a new outdoor pool in West Asheville with more info on the Malvern Hills Park Improvements project page.
More Ways to Stay Cool
APR recently announced summer water games, foam parties, and water-based pop-up events for community members of all ages to chill out and beat the heat.
For community members looking to cool off without getting wet, all APR community centers feature air conditioning and WiFi access. Free community offerings include exercise classes, hobby clubs, card and board games, dances, cooking and healthy living classes, affinity groups, arts and crafts, music jams and drum circles, trivia, salsa and line dancing, indoor basketball, programs for teens and young adults, special events, and much more that can be found in the current APR program guide (available in English and en español) and in APR’s newsletters.