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Best Outdoor Swimming Spots In Metro Detroit

If you want to swim, Metropolitan Detroit has many options for a fun swimming experience. There are many ways to enjoy Michigan's swimming venues. Families can swim together or take swim lessons at many public pools. There are age-appropriate wading pools for young children. Adventurous families can try the water slide activities. It can also be nice to relax in the sun on the beach and read a book while your family swims nearby. No matter how you prefer to spend a day by the water, you can find something enjoyable to do at Metro Detroit's many swimming venues.
Wayne County Family Aquatic Center
12600 Chandler Park Drive
Detroit, MI 48213
(313) 822-7665
www.cpwaterpark.com

The Wayne County Family Aquatic Center, also known as Chandler Park Family Aquatic Center, is the largest water park in the county and offers activities for the entire family. The family can all enjoy the two 23-feet high water slides or the wave pool. The water slides allow one-person and two-person tubes to ride the slides. The wave pool can create large 9-foot wave patterns. Younger children can play in the spray fountains area called Splish-Splash Land. There are plenty of lifeguards on duty at the center for water safety. Wayne County Family Aquatic Center opened on Memorial Day weekend, and holds daily hours June 18-September 5 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wayne county resident rates are $2 for children infant-2-years-old, $5 for children ages 3-12, and $7 for teens and adults. Out-of-county visitors pay one dollar more on their admission rates.

Red Oaks Waterpark
1455 East 13 Mile Road
Madison Heights, MI 48071
(248) 858-0918
www.destinationoakland.com

Red Oaks Waterpark is one of Metropolitan Detroit's most popular water amusement parks. The park has a water slide with triple turns, a wave pool, a water playground for children with 68 different play features, and a water play area for toddlers. The water playgrounds for children and toddlers offer more options than similar play areas at other water parks. The toddler play area called Spray & Play has heated pools, 15 water jets and bubblers in shallow water. The play area for children, Soak Station, has slides, water jets, bubble-makers, curtains and a six-foot tipping bucket. For the whole family, there is a 990-foot long river, River Ride, that people can ride on a tube. Red Oaks Waterpark is open June 11-August 21 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. during weekdays and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekends during the main summer season. Later in the season, hours change to 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on August 22-26, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on August 27-28, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on August 29-September 2, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on September 3-5. Weekend and holiday rates for water park admission is $14 for Oakland county residents and $20 for non-residents. Weekday prices are $11 for Oakland country residents and $17 for non-residents.

Southfield Sports Arena Pool
26000 Evergreen Road
Southfield, MI 48076
(248) 796-4640
www.cityofsouthfield.com

Southfield Sports Arena Pool is the City of Southfield's public outdoor pool and includes a children's play area and activities. The arena is located in the Southfield Municipal Complex. The Southfield Sports Arena has an Olympic-sized outdoor pool, a 120-foot water slide, a spray pool for children and a climbing wall. The pool is open for swimming between 1-6 p.m. on Monday-Saturday, and closed on Sunday during the summer. Swim lessons are available for children over three years old. The pool can also be rented for special events like birthday parties. Southfield residents and City of Southfield employees can purchase a season pass for pool admission at the Southfield Sports Arena or by calling (248) 796-4640.

Related:  Best Public Access Beaches to Spend the Day Near Detroit

City Of Livonia Parks And Recreation Swimming Pools

Botsford Swimming Pool
19444 Lathers St.
Livonia, MI 48152
(248) 476-9700

Shelden Swimming Pool
33123 Van Center Ave. Livonia, MI 48150
(734) 524-0649
www.ci.livonia.mi.us

The City of Livonia has two large outdoor public swimming pools, Botsford and Shelden, that allow recreational swimming and offer swim lessons. The Botsford pool is open June 18-August 19, and the Shelden pool is available for swimming June 25-August 21. Livonia's swimming lesson program is popular and open to both Livonia residents and non-residents. Open swim time during the summer is Monday-Friday at 1-6:45 p.m., and on 12-6:45 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission rates for Livonia residents are $3 for children ages 3-17, $3 for senior citizens and $4 for adults. Non-residents rates are $5.25 for children, $5.25 for senior citizens and $7.50 for adults.

Belle Isle Beach
Belle Isle Park
2 Inselruhe Ave.
Detroit, MI 48207
(844) 235-5375
www.michigandnr.com

Belle Isle Park is a Michigan state park with many recreational activity options. If you want to spend time on the beach, but the kids want to play on the playground, Belle Isle has both. The state park has a giant slide with 6 lanes that people can ride as many times as desired for $1. Belle Isle's beach is a half of a mile long and located along the scenic Detroit River, where you can see boats, swans and safely swim in the river. A lifeguard is usually on duty during the summer season. Belle Isle Beach is open every day at 5 a.m.-9 p.m. from June 6-September 5. The beach is free, included as a part of park admission through your Michigan recreation passport, which is required for admission to the state park. If you don't have a state recreation passport, you can purchase one for $11 when you enter the park, and it will be good for one year. Out-of-state residents can purchase a recreation day pass for $9.

Related: Best Public Pools In Metro Detroit

Adrienne Warber is a Freelance Writer with more than 15 years of professional writing experience. After earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Michigan, Adrienne worked in marketing, where she specialized in communications writing. She is now a full-time freelance writer and writes on many topics, ranging from arts and events to crafts and health. Her work has appeared both in print and online. Her work can be found at Examiner.com and adriennewarber.com.
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