Birmingham residents will have fewer public swimming options this summer as the city addresses maintenance issues at several aging pools.
Aging Facilities Require Major Repairs
The Birmingham Parks and Recreation Board has reduced the number of operating pools after inspections identified maintenance and safety concerns. Birmingham owns 13 public pools, but only five are open for the 2026 summer season.
According to city officials, many of the pools are more than 60 years old. Their age makes repairs increasingly difficult because replacement parts are often unavailable, and some original equipment manufacturers no longer exist. Officials plan to complete repairs in phases due to the scope of the work and available resources.
The city is currently focusing on restoring several pools with the goal of reopening them for next year’s swimming season before moving on to additional facilities.
Which Birmingham Pools Are Open?
Five city pools are welcoming swimmers this summer. Residents can visit Maclin Pool on F.L. Shuttlesworth Drive North, McAlpine Pool in Ensley, Memorial Pool on Sixth Avenue South, Martin Luther King Jr. Pool on 43rd Street North, and Roosevelt City Pool on Higan Avenue.
All open pools will operate through Labor Day weekend. Admission costs $1 per visit, and the city will offer free swimming on Independence Day, July 4.
Pools Closed for the 2026 Season
Four pools are temporarily closed while crews complete repairs. These include Crestwood Pool, E.O. Jackson Pool, Grayson Pool, and Underwood Pool. City officials hope to finish work on these facilities before the 2027 pool season.
Several other pools have remained closed for years because they require more extensive repairs. Those facilities include East Lake Pool, East Pinson Valley Pool, East Thomas Pool, and Wiggins Pool.
The Parks and Recreation Board has not announced reopening dates for the closed pools. Officials say each facility will reopen only after repairs meet safety standards. In the meantime, the city encourages residents to use the five pools that remain open throughout the summer.
Sign up for the Homely Birmingham newsletter to stay up to date on Birmingham.
