Borden Natural Swimming Pool

A woman and a child sitting on the edge of Borden Natural Swimming Pool. Groups of people are visible in the background, on the other side of the pool.

Borden Natural Swimming Pool on a summer day. The sky is blue with a few white clouds.

Borden Natural Swimming Pool is Canada’s first public, man-made, natural swimming pool.

A great family pool in beautiful Borden Park, it is surrounded by sand and plenty of lounge space with umbrellas, making it a perfect destination to enjoy a summer day.

As no chemicals are used to disinfect the water, the guidelines of the pool are different from other outdoor pools. Please read the pool guidelines before visiting the facility.

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Admission & Memberships

Regular 2024 admission prices apply. Outdoor Pools are Value type admission with the exception of Aquafit at Oliver and Swim Training at Queen Elizabeth, which are Benefit Plus programs. Children under 2 years can access outdoor pools for free.

Admission to these pools is included with all City of Edmonton Recreation Centre memberships, including the Summer Child & Youth Pass.

The Summer & Child Youth Pass is available for purchase between June 11 - August 31, 2024. It is $25 per month for children aged 2-12, and $35 per month for youth aged 13-17 years of age.

Pool Guidelines

In addition to City of Edmonton Recreation facility guidelines, these additional guidelines must be followed to keep the facility clean and open:

Do not swim if you have been sick in the last 2 weeks or have open wounds.

Wear proper swim attire:

Swim diapers for toddlers and babies
Swimwear with a liner made for the purpose of swimming
No athletic shorts or underwear is allowed in the water

Have a head-to-toe soaking shower before entering the water. This helps remove contaminants you may bring into the water including soap, lotion, sunscreen and laundry detergent.

Rinse off as much of the soap as possible when having a shower.

Use only phosphate free sunscreen.

Glass containers are not permitted.

Pets are not permitted.

Food and street shoes are not permitted near the water.

Please tell a staff member if you think you or your child may have accidentally contaminated the water.

Throw your garbage in the trash to help keep the facility clean and pest-free.

Customers may bring in unopened, factory sealed beverages only. Opened or unsealed beverages are not allowed in to the facility and customers will be asked to dump out any unsealed beverages. Exceptions can be made for customers who are feeding infants onsite, or for customers with medical needs. Water coolers are available to fill water bottles.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed.

Customers may bring in their own food.

How is it Cleaned?

Borden depends on rock filters and natural processes in the regeneration basin to clean the water instead of using chemicals.

Water in Borden Park Natural Swimming Pool is treated by replicating naturally occurring filtration.

The water purification system includes:

The Neptune Filter: Layers of granite rock filter the water to remove big particles like leaves, dissolved solids and larger organic materials. A biofilm on top of the rock filters out smaller microorganisms.

Hydrobotanical beds: In these “constructed wetlands”, plants filter phosphates, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other contaminants from the water.

Intense ultraviolet from the sun controls bacteria levels before water is recirculated into the public basins.

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Admission & Memberships

Pool Guidelines

How is it Cleaned?

Recreation Centres Admission and Memberships

Swim Safe

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