Pools Closed For Memorial Day Swimming In Tucson

TUCSON, AZ — Memorial Day doesn’t just mark the unofficial start of summer in Tucson — it’s also the weekend most outdoor pools and aquatic centers open their doors for summer swimming and other warm-weather fun.

Last year, summer looked a lot different for Tucson families as many area pools remained closed for the season to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus — a pandemic that, at the time, was just two months old.

This Memorial Day — with more than 120 million Americans fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and weekly COVID-19-related deaths at a 14-month low — many pools will continue to be closed, though only for a short duration.

That's because the city of Tucson's 12 pools will open for recreational and lap swimming on Thursday, running through Aug. 4.

Here's a list of the hours of operation for the pools, once they open their doors:

Amphitheater Pool, 125 W. Yavapai Road

Monday-Thursday, Sunday: noon-7 p.m., closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Archer Pool, 1655 S. La Cholla Blvd.

Monday-Thursday: noon-7 p.m., closed Friday, Sunday: noon-7 p.m.

Catalina Pool, 2005 N. Dodge Blvd.

Closed Monday, Saturday, Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday: noon-7 p.m.

Clements Pool, 8155 E. Poinciana Drive

Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday, Saturday: Closed, Sunday: Noon-7 p.m.

Edith Ball ARC Recreation Pool, 3455 E. Zoo Court

By Reservation Only, Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Sunday: Closed

Fort Lowell Pool, 2900 N. Craycroft Road

Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday, Saturday: Closed, Sunday: Noon-7 p.m.

Mansfield Pool, 2275 N. 4th Ave.

Closed: Monday, Sunday, Tuesday-Saturday: Noon-7 p.m.

Oury Pool, 665 N. Hughes Street

Monday-Thursday: Noon-7 p.m., Friday, Saturday: Closed, Sunday: Noon-7 p.m.

Purple Heart Pool, 9800 E. Rita Road

Closed: Monday, Sunday, Tuesday-Saturday: Noon-7 p.m.

Quincie Douglas Pool, 1563 E. 36th Street

Monday, Sunday: Closed, Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday: Noon-7 p.m.

Sunnyside Pool, 1725 E. Bilby Road

Monday, Sunday: Closed, Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday: Noon-7 p.m.

Udall Pool, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road

Monday, Sunday: Closed, Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday: Noon-7 p.m.

There is no scientific evidence that COVID-19 can spread to others through water in pools, hot tubs, water playgrounds or other treated aquatic venues, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

While no data exists on how COVID-19 responds to chlorine, the chemical has been known to inactivate similar viruses.
But going to a public pool involves more than swimming, and that’s where the risk can be found.
Assessing that out-of-water risk involves looking at several variables, according to MIT Medical, which suggest people should avoid the “three C’s” — closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places with many people nearby, and close-contact settings, such as close-range conversation.
Fortunately, being outdoors and in spaces with good ventilation also reduces the risk of exposure to the coronavirus, according to the CDC.