El Paso Parks and Recreation Expands Pool Sessions for All Ages

El Paso Parks and Recreation opened registration this week for expanded group swim sessions at three city pools, with slots filling for lap swims, parent-child classes and senior water aerobics through August 31.

Summer heat and rising interest in low-impact exercise have pushed more residents toward water-based fitness, a pattern city staff noted after last year’s programs reached capacity by mid-July. Local health data from the El Paso Department of Public Health shows swimming accounts for 22 percent of reported group fitness activity in the region during peak summer months.

Neighborhood pools expand hours

The Marty Robbins Aquatic Center on North Mesa Street now runs adult lap swim from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. daily and added a Tuesday-Thursday evening session for teens. A few miles east, the pool at Ascarate Park on Delta Drive hosts a new multi-generational program on Monday and Wednesday evenings that pairs seniors with middle-school students for coached relay drills. Both facilities sit within the city’s core recreation network and draw participants from the Lower Valley and central neighborhoods.

Fees for the eight-week session start at $48 for city residents and $72 for non-residents, with family passes available for $120. The city reports 1,240 spots across the two pools for the current cycle, up from 980 last summer.

How to sign up

Residents can register online through the city’s Parks and Recreation portal or in person at the main office on Montana Avenue before the next cutoff date of July 18. Walk-up availability remains at both pools for single-day passes priced at $4.50. City staff recommend checking the daily schedule posted on the department website to confirm lane availability before heading out.