Where do you swim in the East Bay?

Since we’ve started this website, some of our favorite pools have closed, but luckily, new options have opened too. Here are ten pools to get wet in the East Bay. Where do you swim?

1. Albany Aquatic Center – Reopened earlier this year after a complete rebuild, the facility includes both an indoor and outdoor pool. Family swim daily and the water is warm enough for little kids. Check the schedule.
   1311 Portland Avenue, Albany
2. Richmond Plunge – This pool is a beautiful indoor cathedral to swimming. Check the hours and rates. Read our write-up of Richmond Plunge.
   1 East Richmond Avenue, Richmond
3. El Cerrito Pool – A shallow area with an active fountain makes this pool welcoming to kids. On warm days, a splash pad opens at the same location. Recreational swim is late Friday afternoon and on the weekend days from 1.15 to 3.45 pm.
   7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito
4. King Pool – Located at Hopkins Park adjacent to a playground and tennis courts in North Berkeley, this public pool is nothing fancy, but has a shallow area and family swim hours during specific times of day. Find the PDF published by the City of Berkeley Aquatics program to see Family Swim hours because it changes from season to season.
   1700 Hopkins Street, Berkeley
5. West Campus – At the quiet intersection of Browning and Addison, you can find another Berkeley public pool. Weekday mornings offer Tiny Tot Time. There is also Family and Public swim time. Since it is outdoors, this pool can be chilly. Check the schedule for hours.
   2100 Browning Street, Berkeley
6. Emeryville Community Pool – At $1.50 per child and $3 per adult, the Emeryville pool boasts the best rates around. Also features lap pool with a diving board, large slide, water basketball, and newly renovated locker rooms. Open swim is weekdays 2:30pm to 5pm. Check the schedule before you go.
   1100 47th st., Emeryville
7. Lake Anza – Like going to the beach, you’ll want to bring sand toys and lounge chairs, and maybe your own picnic, although there is a snack bar on site. Located inside Tilden Park, a visit to Lake Anza is like a mini-vacation. Shade is limited, so bring an umbrella, too.
   Central Park Drive in Tilden Park, Berkeley
8. Lake Temescal – Another oasis in the middle of a city, Temescal Park offers ample picnic spots on grass as well as on the sandy beach of the lake.
   6500 Broadway, Oakland
9. San Ramon Aquatic Center – Out in the {925} this huge pool complex offers an amazing play structure for children in the pool with slides and shooting water. Learn more.
   2228 Camino Ramon, San Ramon
10. Strawberry Canyon – On the UC campus, this large lap pool has a big area for families and a wading pool for toddlers. There is a grassy area to park yourself in for snacks. The hours are difficult to navigate, but are listed on this website. Use the pull down to select Swimming under Event Type.

Related:

• Canyon Swim School lessons
• Where to swim in the East Bay (2011)