St. Pete Kicks Off Summer with Children's Programs Designed to Promote Safety, Fun, and Enrichment

City of St. Petersburg Kicks Off Summer with Children's Programs Designed to Promote Safety, Fun, and Enrichment

May 26, 2026 - As the school year winds down and summer begins, the City of St. Petersburg is launching a season full of engaging programs designed to keep kids safe, active, and inspired. St. Pete offers free and low-cost opportunities for families, including swim lessons, youth safety events, reading programs and pool access.

Learn to Swim Program

The City of St. Petersburg's Parks & Recreation Department's Learn to Swim Program returns, offering essential water safety instruction for children and adults of all skill levels. Lessons begin in June and will be held at City pool locations throughout St. Pete. With Florida consistently ranking among the highest in the nation for unintentional drowning deaths, particularly among children under the age of 5, learning to swim is a vital, life-saving skill.

Five sessions will be offered throughout the summer, with each session including eight 30-to-45 minute classes led by certified American Red Cross instructors. The cost is $39 per session, per participant, and financial assistance is available for qualifying families.

Registration is now open online at https://www.stpeteparksrec.org/SwimLessons or in person at any City pool.

Pools Open for the Summer

St. Pete's Parks & Recreation Department's seasonal neighborhood pools opened to the public over Memorial Day Weekend and will open for the summer on Saturday, May 30. Evening hours begin on Friday, June 5. Saturday and Sunday hours may vary.

Seasonal Pools Locations and Hours:

• Childs Park Pool, 1227 43rd St. S: Monday through Friday from 1-4 p.m., Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

• Fossil Park Pool, 6739 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N: Monday through Sunday from 1-4 p.m. and Friday from 7-9 p.m.

• Jennie Hall Pool, 1025 26th St. S: Monday through Friday from 1-4 p.m., Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

• Lake Vista Pool, 1450 60th Ave. S: Monday through Saturday from 1-4 p.m. and Friday from 7-9 p.m.

• Northwest Pool, 2331 60th St. N: Monday through Friday from 1-4 p.m., Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

• Shore Acres Pool, 4230 Shore Acres Blvd. NE: Monday through Saturday 1-4 p.m. and Friday from 7-9 p.m.

Year-round Pools Locations and Hours:

• E.H. McLin Pool, 602 14th St. S: Monday through Saturday from 1-4 p.m., Friday from 7-9 p.m.

• North Shore Aquatic Complex, 901 North Shore Dr. NE: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

• Walter Fuller Pool, 7883 26th Ave. N: Monday through Friday from 5-7 a.m. for lap swimming and from 1-4 p.m. for recreational swimming, Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday 1-4 p.m.

Pricing

Neighborhood pool admission is $1 for ages 3-12 and $2 for ages 13 and up. North Shore Aquatic Complex admission is $4.50 for ages 3-12 and $5 for ages 13 and up. Visitors can enjoy $1 Splash Days on Memorial Day and Fourth of July at all City pools.

For hours of operation for City pools, visit https://www.stpeteparksrec.org/Pools.

Teen Flex Program

The St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation Department is hosting Friday Night Teen Flex Open Gym, a weekly program created to offer teens ages 12-18 a fun, active, and engaging way to spend their Friday evenings.

Every Friday from 6-9 p.m., recreation centers throughout St. Pete will open their doors for teens to enjoy games, music, sports, and social activities in a safe and welcoming environment. The program rotates locations each week, encouraging teens to explore various centers and connect with friends from across the city.

Monthly Location Schedule

First Fridays:

• Campbell Park Recreation Center, 601 14th St. S

• Willis S. Johns Recreation Center, 6635 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N

Second Fridays:

• Frank Pierce Recreation Center, 2000 7th St. S

• J.W. Cate Recreation Center, 5801 22nd Ave. N

• Shore Acres Recreation Center, 4230 Shore Acres Blvd. NE

Third Fridays:

• Childs Park Recreation Center, 4301 13th Ave. S

• Lake Vista Recreation Center, 1401 62nd Ave. S

• Roberts Recreation Center, 1246 50th Ave. N

Fourth Fridays:

• Gladden Park Recreation Center, 3901 30th Ave. N

• Thomas "Jet" Jackson Recreation Center, 1000 28th St. S

• Walter Fuller Recreation Center, 7891 26th Ave. N

Learn more and find your Friday night spot at https://www.stpeteparksrec.org/sports___fields/gym_hours.php

Summer Reading

Readers of all ages are invited to join the St. Petersburg Library System this summer for Unearth a Story, a season of discovery, imagination, and exploration. This free summer learning program will take place from May 30 through August 1 and offers engaging opportunities for readers and learners of all ages.

Summer Reading Kickoff

Saturday, May 30, from 2 - 4 p.m.
President Barack Obama Main Library
3745 9th Ave. N

More information about the St. Petersburg Library System's Summer Reading Program can be found at www.splibraries.org.

Free Food for Kids at Summer BreakSpot Locations

The City's Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with its Healthy St. Pete division and Summer BreakSpot, is helping ensure children in the community have access to healthy meals all summer long. Through the USDA's Summer Food Service Program, free, nutritious meals will be provided to children 18 years and under while Pinellas County Schools are closed.

The program runs June 2 through August 8, with meal service available at various locations citywide. Sites will offer breakfast, lunch, or both, depending on the location. No registration or application is required.

The program runs June 1 through August 7. Meal service is available at various locations, with sites offering breakfast, lunch, or both. No registration, application, or proof of income is required to participate. No meals will be served on June 19, except at Dell Holmes Park and library locations, or on July 4 at all sites.

Meal Locations and Times

• Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S: Lunch only, 12 - 1 p.m.

• Camp Redbird at Azalea Recreation Center, 1600 72nd St. N: Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30 a.m., Lunch 12 - 1 p.m.

• Campbell Park Recreation Center, 601 14th St. S: Breakfast 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12 - 1 p.m.

• Childs Park Recreation and Fitness Center, 4301 13th Ave. S: Breakfast 8 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12 - 2 p.m.

• Dell Holmes Park, 2741 22nd St. S (Pavilion #1): Lunch only, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

• Frank Pierce Recreation Center, 2000 7th St. S: Breakfast 8:15 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12 - 2 p.m.

• Gladden Park Recreation Center, 3901 30th Ave. N: Breakfast 8 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 11:45 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• J.W. Cate Recreation Center, 5801 22nd Ave. N: Breakfast 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• Johnson Community Library, 1059 18th Ave. S: Lunch only, 12 - 1 p.m.

• Lake Vista Recreation Center, 1401 62nd Ave. S: Breakfast 8 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• President Barack Obama Main Library, 3745 9th Ave. N: Lunch only, 12 - 1 p.m.

• Roberts Recreation Center, 1246 50th Ave. N: Breakfast 8 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• Shore Acres Recreation Center, 4230 Shore Acres Blvd. NE: Breakfast 8 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12 - 1:30 p.m.

• TASCO Center for Teen Technology, 1320 5th St. N: Breakfast 8 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

• Thomas "Jet" Jackson Recreation Center, 1000 28th St. S: Breakfast 8 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12 - 1:30 p.m.

• Walter Fuller Recreation Center, 7891 26th Ave. N: Breakfast 8 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

• Willis S. Johns Recreation Center, 6635 Dr. M.L. King Jr. St. N: Breakfast 8:15 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12 - 1:30 p.m.

For more information about the Summer Food Service Program, visit https://www.stpeteparksrec.org/SummerFood or contact the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department at 727-893-7441.