East Hartford Outdoor Pools to Open Friday, June 18th
East Hartford, CT—Even in the midst of a state and nationwide lifeguard shortage causing pool closures in many towns, East Hartford Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce that our five outdoor pools are scheduled to open for the 2021 season on Friday, June 18th from 1 - 5 p.m. We know that our beautiful pools are a popular destination for East Hartford as well as residents from surrounding communities, and our facilities will once again open to non-residents this summer. East Hartford’s outdoor pools are:
Terry Pool – located in Hockanum Park at 320 High Street. A 50-meter pool with a diving board, high dive, and a ramp for accessible entry. Olympic size!
Martin Pool – located in Martin Park at 307 Burnside Avenue. A historic rectangular pool dating back to 1938, with a separate fenced wading pool.
Drennan Pool – located in McAuliffe Park at 30 Remington Road. A rectangular pool with a ramp for accessible entry.
Lord Pool – located in Gorman Park at 258 May Road. A large pool with a ramp for accessible entry, water slide, and a separate fenced wading pool.
Goldstar Pool – located in Goodwin Park at 1235 Forbes Street. A family-friendly pool with a gently sloped depth and a mushroom water sprinkler feature, the perfect pool for younger children learning to be independent in the water.
For pool hours and facility rules, please visit www.easthartfordct.gov/parks-recreation. The indoor pools at EHHS and EHMS will remain closed for the summer, so that we can fully staff our outdoor pools.
Admission is free for East Hartford residents, with proof of residency required for all adults and children ages 7 and up. Acceptable forms of ID for adults ages 16 and older are a CT Driver’s License or a state issued ID card. Acceptable forms of ID for children ages 7-15 are a 2020-2021 East Hartford Public Schools ID or a Parks and Recreation Youth Photo ID card, which is available for children ages 7-15 at the Parks and Recreation Department. The fee for a Youth Photo ID card is $6.00 and it is valid for three years. The Youth Photo ID application form is available on the Parks and Recreation website at www.easthartfordct.gov/parks-recreation/webforms/youth-id-application. Anyone ages 7 and older, who does not have proof of residency, will be charged the non-resident daily rate, which is $5.00 per person.
Limited programming will be offered at the outdoor pools this year, including group and private swim lessons, adult lap swim and senior swim. Our summer camp programs also utilize our pools during the mornings and afternoons. Due to limited availability, our camps, swim lessons and birthday parties will be available to residents only this summer.
Private Swim Lessons will be held at Drennan Pool on Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning Monday, June 21st. Private lessons are available as a one-week session (two lessons) for $50 for residents only. As private lessons are limited, residents are permitted to sign up for a maximum of two sessions.
Group Swim Lessons will be held in the mornings at Goldstar Pool, and in the evenings at Drennan Pool, Goldstar Pool and Terry Pool. Group Swim Lessons will begin on Monday, June 28th and are held Monday through Thursday evenings for two weeks, for a total of 8 classes. If more than one class in the session is cancelled due to inclement weather, a Friday make-up class may be scheduled. Group swim lessons are $40 for the 8 class session, and available to residents only.
Swim Lesson Registration will begin on Wednesday, June 16th at 10am. Registration for swim lessons is accepted online at www.ehparks.org.
Birthday Party Pool Rentals are available for residents at Goldstar and Lord pools on Saturdays and Sundays beginning July 3rd. The fee is $140 and includes exclusive use of the pool with 2 lifeguards for up to 15 children (ages 14 and under). Birthday parties are available for residents only. We will begin accepting registration for birthday parties on Tuesday, June 22nd at 10am.
The State of Connecticut mask protocol and all current state guidelines will be followed at our outdoor pools. Those who are fully vaccinated can feel comfortable with no mask or social distancing both indoors and outdoors. Those who are unvaccinated are required to continue to wear a mask indoors, and should wear a mask outdoors when in a crowd, at a large event, or in any public place where keeping an appropriate social distance from others is difficult. Our lifeguards and swim instructors will have the option to wear masks when teaching swim lessons if they choose, but it is not required.
For more information on our pools, swim lessons, birthday party rentals or other aquatic programs, please call Parks and Recreation at 860-291-7160 or visit www.easthartfordct.gov/parks-recreation.