It’s officially swimming season in Tulsa. We have you covered on how to find swimming lessons and open pools across town.
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YWCA Tulsa hosts Los Pececitos program
YWCA Tulsa’s Los Pececitos is back for its 15th year, offering free beginner swim lessons for children in the Latino and Hispanic community. The program, which translates to “little fish,” started in 2011 after a report showed a greater drowning risk for Hispanic children, said Maria Guerrero, fitness coordinator for YWCA Tulsa’s East Community Center. YWCA Tulsa partners annually with the American Red Cross to bring the program to life.
Those interested in applying for the program can stop by YWCA’s East Community Center at 8145 E. 17th St. to register. Children between the ages of 4 and 13 years old can apply.
Featuring bilingual instructors, the program includes eight 30-minute sessions over a two-week period. Lessons take place in June and July. The majority of spots for June are filled, but space is available for about 60 more children in July.
“Us Hispanics like to go out to the river, the lake, the pool with our families, but unfortunately, the records showed a high number of Hispanic children drowning,” Guerrero said in Spanish.
Children will learn skills like using a life jacket, floating on their back, entering and exiting the pool safely and more.
“They should know that being close to water can be dangerous,” she said. “If there’s not an adult taking care of them, they have to know what not to do and, likewise, they should know what to do if someone is in danger.”
Where to find pools, splash pads and water playgrounds
Thanks to a group of volunteers, the Columbus Neighborhood Association reopened the Valley Glen Pool at 2614 S. 106th E. Ave. in east Tulsa, last month for the first time in two years.
It costs $6 for a day pass. Memberships are $55 for Columbus Neighborhood Association members and $65 for non-association members. You do not need to be a Columbus resident to purchase a day pass.
The City of Tulsa officially opened city pools during Memorial Day weekend. Each pool is open from noon to 6 p.m.
Pools:
- McClure, 7440 E. 7th St.
- Lacy, 2134 N. Madison Place
- Reed, 4233 S. Yukon Ave.
- Whiteside, 4013 S. Pittsburg Ave.
- Chamberlain, 4940 N. Frankfort Ave.
It costs $3 per person per day. Tulsa Parks also offer free admission to children under four years old. Visitors can also purchase a 10-visit pool pass at a municipal pool for $15.
Water playgrounds and splash pads are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Water playground locations:
- Celebration Park, 1002 W. 21st St.
- Chamberlain Park, 4949 N. Frankfort Ave.
- Helmerich Park, 7301 S. Riverside Drive
- Hunter Park, 5804 E. 91st St.
- Kendall Whittier Park, 2645 E. 5th St.
- Lacy Park, 2134 N. Madison Place
- Manion Park, 3003 E. 56th St.
- Maxwell Park, 5251 E. Newton St.
- McCullough Park, 11534 E. 25th St.
- Mohawk Park, 5701 E. 36th St. N.
- Owen Park, 560 N. Maybelle St.
- Reed Park, 4233 S. Yukon Ave.
- Schlegel Park, 3825 W. 53rd Place
- Springdale Park, 2223 E. Pine St.
- Vining Park, 6502 N. Cincinnati Ave.
- Whiteside Park, 4009 S. Pittsburg Ave.
- Zeigler Park, 3903 W. 4th St.
Splash pad locations:
- Archer Park, 2831 E. Archer St.
- Braden Park, 5036 E. 7th St.
- Carbondale Park, 2802 W. 48th St.
- Crutchfield Park, 1345 E Independence Ave.
- Dawson Park, 2035 N. Kingston Place
- Florence Park, 1936 S. Gary Ave.
- Highland Park, 4909 E. 36th St.
- Johnson Park, 6002 S. Riverside Drive
- Maple Park, 404 E. 15th St.
- Penney Park, 531 S. 49th West Ave.
- Starks Park, 1622 N. Main St.
- Tracy Park, 1134 S. Peoria Ave. (by reservation only)
- Dream Keepers Park, 1875 S. Boulder Ave.
- Wheeling Park, 2209 W. Wheeling Ave.
- Zink Park, 3216 S. Trenton Ave.
Visit cityoftulsa.org/aquatics to stay posted on any changes to hours.
This article was produced as part of a partnership between the Tulsa Flyer and La Semana, a Tulsa-based bilingual Spanish-English newspaper serving Latino communities in Oklahoma.
News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
