Need to cool off? A list of the Triangle’s pools, splash pads and spraygrounds

Kimberly Cataudella

May 28, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.·6 min read

It’s sweat-during-the-walk-from-your-front-door-to-your-car season. Good thing the Triangle has plenty of pools and splash pads to help you cool off.

We rounded up a list of the public pools and splash pads to help you and your family cope with the unbearable heat of summer days. Remember to grab your sunscreen and poolside read.

Note: Be sure to check daily hours of operation (which can change due to weather, staffing issues, COVID and more) before heading out for your day in the sun. Some pools and splash pads require payment too — even for town residents.

Note: Do you want to be a lifeguard? Many Triangle towns are seeking summer lifeguards and pool attendants. Some even pay for lifeguard training and certifications. For more information, visit newsobserver.com/news.

Raleigh: Public Swimming Pools

Raleigh has four year-round pools and four summer pools. Both Raleigh residents and non-residents must pay a fee to visit a pool or aquatics center.

One pool, Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center, offers a three-story waterslide, lazy river and games like water basketball and water volleyball.

Raleigh’s four summer pools:

▪ Biltmore Pool: 701 Crown Crossing Ln. (27610)

▪ Lake Johnson Pool: 5863 Jaguar Park Dr. (27606)

▪ Longview Pool: 321 Bertie Dr. (27610)

▪ Ridge Road Pool: 1709 Ridge Rd (27607)

Raleigh’s four year-round pools:

▪ Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center: 5908 Buffaloe Rd. (27616)

▪ Millbrook Exchange Pool: 1905 Spring Forest Rd. (27615)

▪ Optimist Pool: 5902 Whittier Dr. (27609)

▪ Pullen Aquatic Center: 410 Ashe Ave. (27606)

For hours, fees and additional information for all eight pools, visit raleighnc.gov/aquatics.

Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center, offers a three-story waterslide, lazy river and games like water basketball and water volleyball.

Cary: Public Swimming Pools

The Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary offers daily recreational swim year-round. For hours and fees, visit triangleaquatics.org/facility/hours-and-admissions.

Durham: Public Swimming Pools

Durham has two indoor pools (which have scheduled recreational swim time) and three outdoor pools open for summer. Durham residents 18 and younger don’t have to pay to use the pools.

Durham’s indoor pools:

▪ Edison Johnson Aquatic Center: 500 W Murray Ave.

▪ Campus Hills Pool: 2000 South Alston Ave.

Durham’s outdoor pools:

▪ Forest Hills Pool: 1639 University Dr.

▪ Hillside Pool: 1221 Sawyer St.

▪ Long Meadow Pool: 917 Liberty St.

For locations, hours and fees, visit dprplaymore.org. For the indoor pools’ recreational swim sessions, visit anc.apm.activecommunities.com/dprplaymore.

Chapel Hill: Public Swimming Pools

Chapel Hill has two indoor pools (which have daily recreation swim times) and an outdoor pool open for summer, which can be reserved for parties:

Indoor pools:

▪ Homestead Aquatic Center: 300 Aquatic Dr.

▪ Chapel Hill Community Center Indoor Pool: 120 South Estes Dr.

Outdoor pool:

▪ A.D. Clark Outdoor Pool: Hargraves Center at 216 North Roberson St.

Both Chapel Hill residents and non-residents must pay a fee to visit a pool or aquatics center. For locations, hours and fees, visit townofchapelhill.org.

Hillsborough: Public Swimming Pools

The Orange County Sportsplex is located at 101 Meadowlands Dr. in Hillsborough. There are three pools on site: an 11-lane lap pool, a recreation pool and a one-foot baby pool.

There are membership options, but children (12 and under) are $5 a day, while adults are $6, per the website. For hours and additional information, visit oc-sportsplex.com.

Smithfield: Public Swimming Pools

The Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center has an eight-lane pool and a children’s splash and play pool. Splash park summer hours begin June 6, per the website. There are membership and daily drop-in rates for residents and non-residents. For hours and more information, visit smithfield-nc.com.

Morrisville: Public Swimming Pools

The Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center has daily recreational swim. It’s located at 1301 Morrisville Pkwy. For hours and fees, visit townofmorrisville.org.

Siler City: Public Swimming Pools

The Bray Park Aquatic Facility is located at 700 Alston Bridge Rd. It’s open from May 28 to Labor Day.

Admission costs $5 for visitors aged three to 50, and those 50 and older can get in for $2.50. Anyone can get in for $2.50 on Tuesdays, per the website.

For more information, visit silercity.org.

Wake Forest: Public Swimming Pools

The Holding Park Aquatic Center includes a six-lane lap pool and two water slides with a plunge pool. The pool opens for the summer season on Saturday, May 28, per the website. For hours and fees, visit wakeforestnc.gov.

Knightdale: Public Swimming Pools

The Knightdale Community Pool is located at 202 Milburnie Rd. It will open for the season on Saturday, May 28. Entry is cash only, and both residents and non-residents have to pay to enter. For more information, visit knightdalenc.gov.

Family-friendly splash pads can help beat the heat this summer.

Raleigh: Splash Pads, Spraygrounds

Raleigh has a bunch of spraygrounds:

▪ John Chavis Memorial Park, which is newly renovated, has a sprayground. It’s located at 505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. For hours of operation, visit raleighnc.gov.

▪ Jack Smith Park’s sprayground opened May 11. It’s located at 9725 Penny Rd. For hours of operation, visit townofcary.org.

▪ Three Raleigh pools — Millbrook, Lake Johnson and Ridge Road — include splash pad access with admission.

Durham: Splash Pads, Spraygrounds

Durham has four spraygrounds to beat the heat:

▪ East End Park Sprayground: 1200 N Alston Ave.

▪ Edison Johnson Sprayground: 500 W Murray Ave.

▪ Forest Hills Park Sprayground: 1639 University Dr.

▪ Hillside Park Sprayground: 1221 Sawyer St.

For hours of operation at all four, visit dprplaymore.org/262/Spraygrounds.

Smithfield: Splash Pads, Spraygrounds

Smithfield’s Eva E. Ennis Splash Pad is located at 502 Martin Luther King Jr Dr. It’s open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and play is unsupervised. For hours and more information, visit johnstonnc.com.

The Smithfield Recreation & Aquatics Center Splash Park is located at 600 M. Durwood Stephenson Hwy. There are membership and daily drop-in rates for residents and non-residents. No reservations are needed to use the Splash Park, per the website. For more information, visit smithfield-nc.com.

Siler City: Splash Pads, Spraygrounds

The Bray Park Aquatic Facility is located at 700 Alston Bridge Rd. It’s open from May 28 to Labor Day. Admission includes access to the swimming pool and splash pad, as well as the picnic area.