Houston Parks and Recreation Department pools open on Memorial Day weekend to begin the summer swim schedule. The Emancipation Aquatic Center pool is open and free of charge during summer operations, which is typically from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Water Spraygrounds

The water spraygrounds provide an engaging and interactive fun activity year-round for children, especially during the hot summer months. Water spraygrounds have distinct advantages over swimming pools in that they are cost effective and low maintenance, and water-play activities extend well beyond normal pool season.

The Emancipation Park spraygrounds were opened to the public in June 2018. There are three distinct sprayground areas. One is located inside the pool area and the two others are located in the park. All feature in-ground bubblers and directional sprays. The pool deck splashpad is open to the public only during pool hours.

H-E-B Grocery Company has generously donated funding to the Houston Parks and Recreation Department through the Houston Parks Board, Inc., to create and build additional spraygrounds in Houston city parks. These are brightly colored facilities featuring equipment that squirts, sprays, mists and shoots water. Children will be able to enjoy everything from oversized flowers that mist to a whale that spouts and squirts water and in-ground elements that resemble geysers.

Please Note: When water spraygrounds are being cleaned, they will be closed to public. This should take approximately 4 to 6 hours, barring any unforeseen circumstances and weather permitting. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.