Water and Pools

Free public pools, splash pads and beaches.

November 2026

Showing 1330 listings
Generic photo (an empty public wading pool in a city park), not the Champlain Park wading pool itself (photo: Geo Swan, Wikimedia Commons, CC0)

Champlain Park Wading Pool (Westboro)

Water and Pools

A supervised City of Ottawa wading pool in Champlain Park, a quiet neighbourhood park near the Ottawa River in Westboro. It is open in summer only, usually from late June to late August (June 29 to August 23 in 2026), closed Wednesdays. Wading pools are free, with attendants on duty during opening hours.

Family Friendly Outdoor
Generic photo (a shallow public wading pool surrounded by trees), not the Jules Morin Park wading pool itself (photo: Oceanflynn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Jules Morin Park Wading Pool (Lowertown)

Water and Pools

A supervised, accessible City of Ottawa wading pool in Jules Morin Park in Lowertown. It is open in summer only, usually from late June to late August (June 29 to August 22 in 2026), closed Sundays. Wading pools are free, and the City offers free recreation activities at wading pool sites during opening hours.

Accessible Venue Family Friendly Outdoor
Swings and play equipment beside the wading pool at Pauline Vanier Park in Ottawa (photo: Dvermeirre, Wikimedia Commons, CC0)

Pauline Vanier Park Wading Pool (Riverside Park)

Water and Pools

A supervised City of Ottawa wading pool in Pauline Vanier Park, with swings and a playground right beside it. It is open in summer only, usually from late June to mid August (June 23 to August 15 in 2026), closed Sundays and Mondays. Wading pools are free, with attendants on duty during opening hours.

Family Friendly Outdoor
Generic photo (swimmer doing butterfly in an indoor pool), not Walter Baker Sports Centre itself (photo: BHARAT VISHAWAKARMA, Unsplash)

Free Saturday Family Swim, 17 and Under (Walter Baker Sports Centre, Barrhaven)

Water and Pools

Through the City of Ottawa's Play Free program, drop-in public swims on Saturdays are free for children and youth aged 17 and under and the adults who come with them. The fall 2026 schedule (to December 18) lists the Play Free public swim on Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm. Schedules can change, so check the pool page before you go.

Family Friendly Indoor
Generic photo (clear pool water with lane dividers), not St. Laurent Complex itself (photo: Zhiqiang Wang, Unsplash)

Free Saturday Family Swim, 17 and Under (St. Laurent Complex, Overbrook)

Water and Pools

Through the City of Ottawa's Play Free program, drop-in public swims on Saturdays are free for children and youth aged 17 and under and the adults who come with them. The fall 2026 schedule (to December 20) lists the Play Free public swim on Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm, with no reservation needed. Schedules can change, so check the pool page before you go.

Family Friendly Indoor
Generic photo (pool lane marker on the water), not Splash Wave Pool itself (photo: Tao Yuan, Unsplash)

Free Saturday Family Swim, 17 and Under (Splash Wave Pool, Gloucester)

Water and Pools

Through the City of Ottawa's Play Free program, drop-in public swims on Saturdays are free for children and youth aged 17 and under and the adults who come with them. The fall 2026 schedule (to December 20) lists the Play Free public swim in the warm pool on Saturdays from noon to 1 pm; wave swim sessions are not included in the free offer. Schedules can change, so check the pool page before you go.

Family Friendly Indoor
Generic photo (kids playing in a pool), not Sawmill Creek Pool itself (photo: Danielle-Claude Bélanger, Unsplash)

Free Saturday Family Swim, 17 and Under (Sawmill Creek Pool, South Keys)

Water and Pools

Through the City of Ottawa's Play Free program, drop-in public swims on Saturdays are free for children and youth aged 17 and under and the adults who come with them. The fall 2026 schedule (to December 20) lists the Play Free public swim on Saturdays from 1 to 3 pm at the Sawmill Creek Community Centre and Pool. Schedules can change, so check the pool page before you go.

Family Friendly Indoor Parking Available
Generic photo (boy in a pool with an inflatable duck), not Richcraft Recreation Complex itself (photo: Abstral Official, Unsplash)

Free Saturday Family Swim, 17 and Under (Richcraft Recreation Complex, Kanata)

Water and Pools

Through the City of Ottawa's Play Free program, drop-in public swims on Saturdays are free for children and youth aged 17 and under and the adults who come with them. The fall 2026 schedule (to December 20) lists Play Free swims on Saturdays from 8:30 to 9:30 am and 12:30 to 1:30 pm in the leisure pool, plus a public swim from 1:30 to 4 pm. Schedules can change, so check the pool page before you go.

Family Friendly Indoor
Generic photo (group of kids in a pool), not Ray Friel Recreation Complex itself (photo: Kevin Paes, Unsplash)

Free Saturday Family Swim, 17 and Under (Ray Friel Recreation Complex, Orléans)

Water and Pools

Through the City of Ottawa's Play Free program, drop-in public swims on Saturdays are free for children and youth aged 17 and under and the adults who come with them. The fall 2026 schedule (to December 20) lists the Play Free public swim on Saturdays from noon to 1 pm; wave swim sessions are not included in the free offer. Schedules can change, so check the pool page before you go.

Family Friendly Indoor Parking Available
Generic photo (children swimming with instructors), not Plant Recreation Centre itself (photo: Skytech Aviation, Unsplash)

Free Saturday Family Swim, 17 and Under (Plant Recreation Centre, Hintonburg)

Water and Pools

Through the City of Ottawa's Play Free program, drop-in public swims on Saturdays are free for children and youth aged 17 and under and the adults who come with them. The fall 2026 schedule (to November 29) lists the Play Free public swim on Saturdays from 1:30 to 4 pm at the historic Plant Bath on Somerset Street West. Schedules can change, so check the pool page before you go.

Family Friendly Indoor
Generic photo (child playing in a pool), not Pinecrest Recreation Complex itself (photo: Nellie Adamyan, Unsplash)

Free Saturday Family Swim, 17 and Under (Pinecrest Recreation Complex)

Water and Pools

Through the City of Ottawa's Play Free program, drop-in public swims on Saturdays are free for children and youth aged 17 and under and the adults who come with them. The fall 2026 schedule lists the Play Free public swim on Saturdays from 12:30 to 1:45 pm, with no reservation needed. Schedules can change, so check the pool page before you go.

Family Friendly Indoor
Generic photo (children learning to swim), not Nepean Sportsplex itself (photo: Skytech Aviation, Unsplash)

Free Saturday Family Swim, 17 and Under (Nepean Sportsplex)

Water and Pools

Through the City of Ottawa's Play Free program, drop-in public swims on Saturdays are free for children and youth aged 17 and under and the adults who come with them. The fall 2026 schedule (to December 20) lists the Play Free public swim on Saturdays from 11 am to 12:30 pm at the Nepean Sportsplex on Woodroffe Avenue. Schedules can change, so check the pool page before you go.

Family Friendly Indoor Parking Available