Summer in Birmingham: 13 city pools, $1 swims and swim lessons in 2025, McWane and zoo day camps, free park classes and when 2027 registration opens.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Summer 2027 schedules are not out yet, so the details below are from the city’s and organizers’ 2025 and 2026 notices, and we say which year each is from. Birmingham City Schools’ last day for students is Thursday, June 10, 2027.

Birmingham’s summer runs on city pools, day camps at McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Zoo, and free classes in Railroad Park. The city operates 13 pools, though not all open every summer; in 2025 four opened for Memorial Day weekend and more followed in June.

Who to call

  • City pools: Birmingham Park and Recreation, 205-254-3120
  • McWane Science Center camps: 205-714-8300
  • Birmingham Zoo Learning Department (Zoo Camp): 205-879-0409, ext. 4

City pools

The city lists 13 pools on its city pools page: Crestwood Park, East Lake, East Pinson Valley, East Thomas, E.O. Jackson (Fountain Heights), Grayson, Maclin Park, McAlpine Park, Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial Park, Roosevelt City, Underwood and Wiggins. The page said on Oct. 17 that pools were closed for the season.

How summer 2025 worked, according to the city’s June 2025 announcement:

  • Memorial Day weekend: Crestwood Park, Memorial Park, Martin Luther King Jr. and McAlpine Park opened.
  • From Saturday, June 7: the same four pools opened Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. E.O. Jackson, Roosevelt City and Underwood were set to follow on June 10.
  • Cost: $1 a person, cash only.
  • Swimwear: proper swim attire is required; the city specifically barred basketball shorts, sports bras and tank tops.
  • Swim lessons: two-week sessions from June 17 at the four main pools, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday to Friday, for ages 5 and up who could stand in chest-deep water; families registered in person at the pool, and a parent had to stay.
Pool Address
Crestwood Park 5400 Crestwood Blvd.
Martin Luther King Jr. 529 43rd St. N.
McAlpine Park 1115 Avenue F, Ensley
Memorial Park 524 6th Ave. S.
E.O. Jackson (Fountain Heights) 601 15th Ave. N.
Roosevelt City 5904 Higan Ave.
Underwood 1021 26th St. S.

In 2025 the city was still hiring seasonal lifeguards in late May; applicants had to be at least 16 and able to swim.

Splash pads

The Birmingham Zoo’s Junior League of Birmingham Hugh Kaul Children’s Zoo has splash pads, which the zoo opened for the season by Memorial Day weekend in 2026, according to its 2026 announcement. They are included with zoo admission. Know of a free public splash pad in Birmingham? Tell us.

Day camps

  • McWane Science Center, 200 19th St. N.: weekly summer camps for ages 4 to 13, half-day for 4K and kindergarten and full-day for grades 1 to 7. In 2026 camps ran weekly from the week of June 1 into late July; members could register from Jan. 2 and everyone else from Feb. 2. Lunch is not provided, according to McWane’s camps page and its 2026 camp guide.
  • Birmingham Zoo Camp, 2630 Cahaba Road: ages 5 to 12, with zoo tours, animal meet-and-greets, games and crafts. Drop-off is 8:30 to 9 a.m. and pick-up 3:30 to 4 p.m., extended care is offered only in summer, and caregivers pack an allergen-free lunch and snack, according to the Zoo Camp page. Three 2026 summer weeks sold out by late May. Teens 13 to 15 can join the zoo’s Conservation & Careers program.
  • Kids and Jobs: in April 2026 the city took applications for summer work for young people; see the city’s April 2026 announcement.

Free summer outdoors

  • Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave. S., open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily: free Get Healthy on the Railroad exercise classes every weekday from April to October, a monthly free cooking class, the Magic City Pop-Up Plaza food truck and maker market on the second Friday of each month (April to October, 3 to 7 p.m.) and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s free Symphony in the Summer concerts, according to the park’s events page.
  • Birmingham Public Library summer reading: the 2026 kickoff was Saturday, May 9, at Avondale Park, according to the library’s holiday closures list.

What this means for you

  • Register for camps in January and February; popular weeks fill.
  • Carry cash to city pools, and call 205-254-3120 to check which pools are open before you go.

Related: Memorial Day, kids’ activities in Birmingham and Fourth of July fireworks.

Frequently asked questions

When do Birmingham city pools open?

In 2025 four city pools opened for Memorial Day weekend and the summer season started Saturday, June 7, with more pools added June 10. The 2027 schedule had not been posted on Oct. 17; the city’s pools line is 205-254-3120.

How much does it cost to swim at a Birmingham city pool?

In 2025 it cost $1 a person, cash only, and pools were open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

When does McWane summer camp registration open?

For 2026, McWane members could register from Jan. 2 and everyone else from Feb. 2. Weekly camps ran from the week of June 1 through late July for ages 4 to 13.

Does the Birmingham Zoo have a summer camp?

Yes. Zoo Camp is for ages 5 to 12, with weekly themes in June and July, and a Conservation & Careers program for teens 13 to 15.

Are there splash pads in Birmingham?

The Birmingham Zoo’s Hugh Kaul Children’s Zoo has splash pads, open for the season from Memorial Day weekend in 2026 and included with admission.