Guilford County is getting its pools and its parks ready for the throngs of happy screaming kids and adults with noise-cancelling earphones – and the preparations are nearly complete.
Starting on Saturday, May 25, Bur-Mil Park, Hagan-Stone Park, and Northeast Park Aquatic Centers will open up to the public on a special schedule before opening later with a seven-day-a-week schedule.
Here’s the early schedule…
Saturday, May 25: 11 a.m.to 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 26: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, May 27: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 1: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 2: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Beginning on Saturday, June 8, all of the county’s park’s pools and aquatic centers will be open seven days a week through Sunday, August 18.
Then, the Aquatic Centers will go back to weekend-only hours until Monday, Sept. 2.
In recent years, the county has had trouble getting enough lifeguards to open the pools by Memorial Day Weekend, but evidently, that kink has been worked out.
The hours for the pools and other water amusements will be from Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from Friday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Sunday hours will be from noon to 5 p.m.
All of the aquatic centers include a beach entry and a toddler slide, as well as water spray sections.
One popular feature at Hagan-Stone Park is the 22-foot slide with several twists and turns.
The pools at Bur-Mil Park and Northeast Park, on the other hand, feature diving boards.
All the aquatic centers will observe special hours on county holidays and days set aside for special events. You can visit the Guilford County Parks webpage for a list of those dates.
Even though taxpayers already paid for the pools and other water attractions, there’s still an admission fee: Admission is $5 per person, but kids under two years of age are free. (Parents and guardians should not leave their 2-year-olds at the pool unaccompanied just to get out of paying the $5.)
Pool goers can save money by buying a 2024 Aquatic Center Discount Pass for $40. Those passes will allow visitors 10-weekday entries into Bur-Mil Park, Hagan-Stone Park or Northeast Park Aquatic Centers – excluding holidays.
The passes can be purchased in person at the parks starting on opening day – Saturday, May 25.
In a Wednesday, May 8 announcement of the openings and the pool hours, county parks officials offered the following tips for aquatic center visitors…
- To avoid large crowds, guests are encouraged to visit during weekday, non-peak hours.
- General admission reservations won’t be accepted in advance.
- All Aquatic Centers are currently accepting daycare swim and pool party reservations.
- Pool parties and daycare visits must be scheduled in advance. No swim lessons will be provided.
- Concession stands are available near each pool. Guests may bring coolers, but alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.
- Guests must adhere to staff directives and all aquatic center rules and procedures.
For exact locations and more information on Guilford County Parks Aquatic Centers, you can call 336-641-7275 or visit www.guilfordparks.com. You can also follow Guilford County Parks on Facebook for updates.
