Dive Into One of Our Outdoor Pools

July 8, 2008 - Now that summer's finally here what better way to spend time with family and friends and keep cool than a visit to one of the Park Board's great outdoor pools?

Outdoor neighbourhood pools
The Vancouver Park Board operates two neighbourhood outdoor pools: Mount Pleasant, in city centre, is a traditional pool with diving boards and regular lengths. Maple Grove, on the southwest side of the city, is a shallow, beach-style entry pool excellent for families with young children. Both of these pools are accessible to persons with a disability.

Seaside pools
Our three seaside pools are a great destination for the whole family. Kitsilano, Second Beach and New Brighton pools are all heated and all have beach-style entry, making them accessible for kids of all ages as well as people with limited mobility.

Kitsilano Pool, Vancouver's only salt water pool, offers a swim lane that is 137½ metres in length. New Brighton Pool has a 25 metre tank, two slides for children of varying ages and a section with beach-style entry. Second Beach Pool is situated at the edge of beautiful English Bay in Stanley Park and has three slides that accommodate children of all ages as well as 50 metre swimming lanes for the serious swimmer.

Swimming benefits all ages
Whether you are nine months or 90 years old, swimming is a lifetime sport that benefits the body and the whole person and provides an excellent aerobic workout. The muscles used in swimming are from all the major muscle groups - abdominal, biceps and triceps, gluteals, hamstrings and quadriceps. Swimming also helps keep the joints flexible especially the hips, neck, shoulders and limbs. Finally, swimming is a kinder form of exercise and a good choice for those who cannot take up weight bearing exercise, especially when rehabilitating from any joint or back injury.

The benefits of swimming on our physical and mental health are many. It is ideal to take up an exercise regimen that suits your lifestyle, your likes and your health conditions - after all, if you want to make a long-term commitment to fitness, you must enjoy what you're doing!

Add variety to your swim
Don't get stuck in a rut! There are many ways to enjoy the water, have fun and get a good workout. Playing with your kids in the water is one of the easiest ways to get active and it provides great health benefits. Why not try pool walking and jogging? Because of the resistance of the water, walking and jogging in the pool provide great toning benefits to the lower body. The pool also provides a pleasant environment for yoga and flexibility training or create your own personalized toning and strengthening program. Some swimmers alternate swimming lengths with deep water jogging and running or wall exercises and stretches that focus on specific muscle groups. Why not try a new stroke, take a class or set yourself some endurance goals? Join an aquafit class, which provides the added incentive of exercising with others.

Aquafit classes are offered at Kitsilano, Second Beach, and Mount Pleasant pools and swimming lessons for adult, child and pre-school are offered at all outdoor pools starting in July. Adding variety to your pool time will keep you coming back! Please remember to check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.