Pools, splash pads and beaches: Where to swim in the Lansing area this summer

Kara Berg, Lansing State Journal
·5 min read
The Hunter Park Pool, seen Friday, June 11, 2021 in Lansing.
The Hunter Park Pool, seen Friday, June 11, 2021 in Lansing.

Summer 2022 is forecast to be warmer than average, according to the National Weather Service, and Lansing area pools have begun to open to swimmers.

With pools, splash pads and beaches, there is no shortage of places to cool off in mid-Michigan.

One of the more popular swimming areas, the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center, is expected to open sometime this summer after being closed for the past two years due to the pandemic and updates to the facility. They haven't set an opening date because of hiring challenges, delays in construction and supply chain interruptions.

Here are some of the place area residents can swim this summer:

Pools

Alfreda Schmidt Community Center Pool: Now to Aug. 26, the pool has open swim from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. From 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, the pool offers an adult lap swim. The Alfreda Schmidt pool is at 5825 Wise Road in Lansing.

Charlotte Aquatic Center: The Charlotte Aquatic Center, 1068 Carlisle Highway, offers two daily "pool parties" starting June 13. Parents are not required to stay with their kids if they are older than 5. No registration is needed and each session is $5 per person.

Pool party hours are 1 to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

East Lansing Hannah Community Center: The East Lansing Hannah Community Center, at 819 Abbot Road in East Lansing, is open for swimmers, but all pool time must be reserved with the front desk staff or by calling 517-333-2580.

Open swim is 3:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 3:30 to 7 p.m. Fridays. Family swim is 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Adult lap swim is 6 to 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Hunter Park Pool: The Hunter Park Pool and splash pad will open daily from 1 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. from June 13 through Aug. 21, as well as Aug. 27-29 for the same hours. The pool is at 1400 E Kalamazoo St. in Lansing.

Mason High School: The Mason High School Aquatic Center, 1001 S. Barnes St., has open swim 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:15 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays from June 13 to Aug. 19.

There will not be open swim June 30, July 1, July 4 and Aug. 1-5.

No registration is required, but a cash payment (with correct change) is due at the door. Open swim costs $3 for adults, $2 for students and senior citizens, and $8 for a family of four (with $1 added for each additional family member in the same household). Punch cards with 10 visits are available for $25 for adults and $15 for students.

Michigan Athletic Club: Open swim hours at the outdoor leisure pool at the M.A.C. are underway: from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Hours for the outdoor lap pool are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Hours for the indoor lap and exercise pool are 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

You must be a member of the club to swim at the pool, which is at 2900 Hannah Blvd. in East Lansing.

St. Johns High School Pool: The pool, at 501 W. Sickles St., has open swim from 1:15 to 4:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 21 to Aug. 3. It costs $3 for adults, $2.50 for kids 7 to 17, $2 for kids 4 to 6, and children under 3 are free. A family pass is $12. No registration is required.

It also offers lap swim from 5 to 6 a.m. Thursdays and 9 to 10 a.m. Fridays. Lap swim is $5 per person. Swimmers must register in advance.

YMCA pools: Three YMCAs in the Lansing area have pools open in the summer: Westside YMCA in west Lansing, Oak Park YMCA in south Lansing and the Parkwood YMCA in East Lansing. The west Lansing location has a splash pool and a slide. Visit the YMCA website for weekly pool schedules.

Splash pads

A.J. Miller and son Griffyn, 3, of Lansing beat the Monday afternoon heat at the Hawk Island Park splashpad in Lansing, June 28, 2021. "I grew up on the westside, and we didn't have parks like this when I was a kid," A.J. says. "Closest thing we had was the big sledding hill off of Michigan Avenue which is overgrown now, so we really appreciate this place." The family utilizes the park regularly, including the tubing hill in the winter.

Hawk Island Park: The splash pad at Hawk Island opened Memorial Day weekend and will continue through Labor Day weekend from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, weather permitting. It is closed if it is raining. The splash pad is free, but there is a fee to enter the park in a vehicle.

Jaycee Park: The Jaycee Park splash pad, at 525 E. River St. in Grand Ledge, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day weekend. The splash pad is free.

St. Johns Spray Park: The St. Johns Spray Park is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. There is no admission charge. The park is located at 801 W. Park St.

Beaches

Lake Lansing photographed on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, in Haslett.
Lake Lansing photographed on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, in Haslett.

Ingham County beaches, including Lake Lansing South in Haslett, Hawk Island in Lansing and Burchfield Park in Holt, are open from noon to 8 p.m. through Labor Day.

Other area beaches include:

  • Valhalla Pond in Delhi Township

  • Sleepy Hollow State Park in Victor Township

  • Motz County Park in St. Johns

  • Park Lake in Bath Township

  • Fox Memorial Park in Potterville

  • Rotary Park in Lansing (does not have direct water access, but is on the Grand River in downtown Lansing)

Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Swimming in Lansing: What pools, splash pads, beaches open this summer