Lexington city pools, spraygrounds and summer camps: 2026 opening days, hours, admission, pool passes and when 2027 camp registration usually opens.
Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. The 2026 season is over and the city has not posted 2027 dates, so the dates below are from 2026 and are marked that way. Aquatics office: 859-288-2973. Parks office: 859-288-2900.
Lexington Parks and Recreation runs six outdoor pools, five free spraygrounds and a long list of summer camps. Summer 2027 starts after Fayette County Public Schools’ last day of classes, Wednesday, May 26, 2027, pending weather make-up days (schools).
City pools (2026 season)
All six aquatic centers charged $7 for adults and $5 for youth 15 and under in 2026, and took cash, checks or cards. Regular hours were 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, except where noted.
| Pool | Address | 2026 opening | 2026 closing | Features (city list) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castlewood Aquatic Center | 320 Parkview Ave. | Saturday, May 23 | Wednesday, Aug. 12 | Looped slide, giant octopus, diving board, zero-depth entry, enclosed sprayground |
| Douglass Aquatic Center | 701 Howard St. | Saturday, May 23 | Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day) | “Wet Bubble” play feature, slide, shaded stair entry |
| Southland Aquatic Center | 625 Hill-n-Dale Road | Saturday, May 23 | Monday, Sept. 7 | Separate play pool for young children, tall slide, zero-depth entry |
| Shillito Aquatic Center | 300 Reynolds Road | Saturday, May 30 | Monday, Sept. 7 | Diving board, climbing wall, two 50-meter lap lanes, toddler pool; open to 8 p.m. weekdays |
| Tates Creek Aquatic Center | 1400 Gainesway Drive | Saturday, May 23 | Wednesday, Aug. 12 | Enclosed looped slide, toddler pool, 50-meter lap lanes |
| Woodland Aquatic Center | 190 Old Park Ave. | Saturday, May 23 | Wednesday, Aug. 12 | “Paradise Lagoon,” looped slide, diving pool, climbing wall, 25-meter lap pool |
The three pools that stayed open after school started moved to post-season hours from Thursday, Aug. 13: 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Shillito also opened at 6 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday for lap swim with a pool pass.
Pools close early on some summer evenings for swim team meets, and the city posts temporary closures on its operation status page. Pool rules include: children 7 and under may use only the wading pool with a parent or guardian, and anyone under 15 needs a chaperone 17 or older.
Pool passes: in 2026 a season pool pass good at every city pool cost $60 a person through May 17 and $65 from May 18, with $10 off each pass after the second in the same household. Passes went on sale March 23, 2026. The city does not refund pool passes.
Spraygrounds
The city lists no admission charge for its five spraygrounds, which have no standing water and no lifeguard, so a parent must supervise. Touch the top of the pole near the entrance to start the water.
| Sprayground | Address | 2026 season | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Young Park | 540 E. Third St. | April 25 to Oct. 4 | 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily |
| Jacobson Park | 4001 Athens-Boonesboro Road | April 25 to Oct. 4 | 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily |
| Masterson Station Park | 3051 Leestown Road | April 25 to Oct. 4 | 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily |
| Castlewood Park | 320 Parkview Ave. | May 23 to Aug. 12 | Pool hours |
| Douglass Park | 701 Howard St. | May 23 to Sept. 7 | Pool hours |
City summer camps (2026)
Registration for 2026 camps opened Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m., online and in person at the Parks and Recreation office, 469 Parkway Drive. Online sign-up needs a household account with each camper’s age verified first, which the city says can take up to three business days, so set it up early. Camps closed Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth), and Friday, July 3, in 2026.
From the city’s 2026 camp list:
| Camp | Ages | Where | 2026 fee and hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Kearney | 6 to 12 | Jacobson Park | $150 a week; 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Camp Kearney counselor in training | 12 to 14 | Jacobson Park | $150 a week |
| Art Kids | 7 to 13 | Tates Creek Ballroom | $150 a week; 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Dance Kids | 7 to 13 | Tates Creek Ballroom | $150 a week; 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Dance Babies (half day) | 3 to 6 | Tates Creek Ballroom | $65 a week; 8:45 a.m. to noon |
| Equestrian Camp | 10 to 13 | Masterson Station Park | $175 a session; mornings or afternoons |
| ESP Summer Fun Camp | finished kindergarten to entering fifth grade | Coventry Oak, Julius Marks and Stonewall elementary schools | $175 a week plus tax; 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Junior golf camp | 6 to 16 | Lakeside and Meadowbrook golf courses | $175; 9 a.m. to noon |
| Tennis and swim camp | 6 to 14 | Shillito Park | $193 full day; $100 half day |
| S.T. Roach basketball and cheer clinics | 6 to 16 | Dunbar Community Center | Free |
| Therapeutic recreation camps | 5 to 11, 13 to 19, 20 and up | Castlewood Park, Woodland Park, Dunbar Community Center | $150 a week |
Fees for every camp except ESP include Kentucky’s 6% sales tax. Any camp is eligible for a 50% discount for youth in qualifying households through the city’s Count Me In program; call 859-288-2900. ESP, golf, tennis and the S.T. Roach clinics use their own sign-up systems, linked from the camp list.
Free summer evenings
Parks and Recreation’s free summer concerts in 2026 included Big Band and Jazz on Tuesdays, the Southland Jamboree bluegrass series on Thursdays and Summer Nights in Suburbia on some Fridays, mostly at Moondance Amphitheater, plus Friday Flicks movies at Jacobson Park. See free things to do in Lexington.
Plan ahead for 2027
- February: watch for camp registration; it opened Feb. 25 in 2026.
- March: pool passes went on sale March 23 in 2026.
- Memorial Day weekend: pools opened that Saturday in 2026 (Memorial Day in Lexington).
- More ideas: kids’ activities, parks and trails, Fourth of July fireworks and Father’s Day.
Frequently asked questions
When do Lexington city pools open?
In 2026 five of the six city aquatic centers opened Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m., the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and Shillito opened May 30. The city has not posted 2027 dates yet.
How much does it cost to swim at a Lexington city pool?
In 2026 admission was $7 for adults and $5 for youth 15 and under. A season pool pass was $60 through May 17 and $65 from May 18.
When does Lexington summer camp registration open?
Registration for 2026 Parks and Recreation summer camps opened Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m., online and in person at 469 Parkway Drive. The 2027 date has not been announced.
Where are the splash pads in Lexington?
The city has five spraygrounds, at Castlewood, Charles Young, Douglass, Jacobson and Masterson Station parks. Charles Young, Jacobson and Masterson Station opened April 25 in 2026 and ran 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Is there financial help for Lexington summer camps?
Yes. Any city camp is eligible for a 50% financial assistance discount for youth in qualifying households, through the Count Me In program.
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