Beaches, outdoor pools, and splash pads

Supervised beaches, outdoor pools, and splash pads

Lifeguard supervision and water quality testing takes place between July 1 and August 31 each year. 

Know your swimming limitations if you choose to swim in unsupervised bodies of water. Always swim with a buddy in supervised areas and adults should never leave children unsupervised in the water.

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Supervised beaches

Beach status is updated weekdays by 8 a.m. and by 9 a.m. on weekends (between July 1 and August 31). Please note that beach closures due to suspected blue-green algae can happen at any time. This page will be updated as needed regarding blue-green algae-related closures.

Water sample results are provided when they exceed Health Canada Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality. More information on testing processes and Health Canada guidelines are available in the Water Testing at Supervised Beaches section of this page.

Supervised beach status updates

Click on the beach name for more information.
Beach Name Location Lifeguard Supervision Water Type Water Sample Results Beach Status (Open/Risk Advisory in Effect/Closed)
Beach Name Location Lifeguard Supervision Water Type Water Sample Results Beach Status (Open/Risk Advisory in Effect/Closed)
Albro Lake Beach Albro Lake, Dartmouth July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Birch Cove Beach Lake Banook, Dartmouth July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Campbell Point Beach Hatchet Lake, Halifax Monday - Friday | July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Chocolate Lake Beach Chocolate Lake, Halifax July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Cunard Pond Beach Williams Lake, Halifax July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Kearney Lake Beach Kearney Lake, Halifax July 1 - September 4 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Kidston Lake Beach Kidston Lake, Halifax July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Kinap Beach Porters Lake July 1 - August 31 Salt water (brackish) N/A Closed for the season
Lake Echo Beach Lake Echo July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Long Pond Beach Long Pond, Halifax July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Malay Falls Sheet Harbour, Eastern Shore July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Oakfield Park Beach Shubenacadie Grand Lake, Oakfield July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Penhorn Lake Beach Penhorn Lake, Dartmouth July 1 - September 4 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Pleasant Drive Beach Petpeswick Lake, Eastern Shore July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Sandy Lake Beach Sandy Lake, Bedford July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Saunders Beach Paper Mill Lake (dam side) , Bedford July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Shubie Park Beach Lake Charles, Shubie Park, Dartmouth July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Springfield Beach Springfield Lake, Sackville July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season
Webber's Beach Lake Charlotte, Eastern Shore July 1 - August 31 Fresh water N/A Closed for the season

Swimming and other primary contact activities are not recommended when a water quality advisory is in effect. More information about how a beach’s water quality status is determined can be found in the municipality’s 2024 Supervised Beach Water Quality Monitoring Protocol.

 

Water testing at supervised beaches

Municipal staff regularly test the water quality for bacteria (E. coli) levels, blue-green algae, and other waterborne contaminants at all supervised municipal beaches from July 1 to August 31

Health Canada's Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality

CFU = Colony-Forming Units
Water Type Bacteria Type Average bacteria concentration over the last five samples (geomean) limit (CFU) Individual sample limit (CFU)
Water Type Bacteria Type Average bacteria concentration over the last five samples (geomean) limit (CFU) Individual sample limit (CFU)
Fresh water E. coli 126/100mL 235/100mL
Salt water (Brackish) Enterococci 35/100mL 70/100mL

Bacteria testing

In 2024, the Halifax Regional Municipality adopted Health Canada’s updated Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality. The acceptable levels of bacteria in recreational water are displayed in the table below.

Allowable bacteria levels table

Allowable bacteria levels

When water samples show an exceedance of the guideline, measured E. coli bacteria concentrations will be posted with beach advisories in public service announcements and on the halifax.ca website.

While a swimming advisory is in effect, use of the beach area will be at the user’s own risk, lifeguards will be present on site to advise against swimming, and swimming lessons will be cancelled.

In 2024, Halifax Regional Municipality has adopted Health Canada’s updated Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality. The acceptable levels of bacteria in recreational water are shown above.

Swimming and other primary contact activities are not recommended when a water quality advisory is in effect. More information about how concentrations are measured, analyzed, and use to determine a beach’s water quality status can be found in the municipality’s 2024 Supervised Beach Water Quality Monitoring Protocol.

Blue-green algae monitoring & testing

If a suspected blue-green bloom is observed at one of our supervised beaches, the beach is closed immediately, and water samples are analyzed for toxins. The supervised beach will re-open once water sample results are within Health Canada guidelines. When a bloom is reported to the province in a lake where the municipality supervises a beach, municipal staff conduct follow-up monitoring to ensure water quality is within Health Canada guidelines.

View more information on algae blooms here. 

Blue-green algae decision tree

Below is a flow chart showing the decision-making process used when opening or closing beaches following the observation of a potential blue-green algae bloom or mat near a municipally supervised beach.

A flow chart showing the decision-making process used when opening or closing beaches following the observation of a potential blue-green algae bloom or mat near a municipally supervised beach.

Beach washroom or change room facilities

Washrooms and change rooms are available at the following beaches at the hours listed. These facilities open on the long weekend in May and close at the end of September each year. Portable bathrooms are available at all other supervised beaches.

  • Albro Lake Beach: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
  • Chocolate Lake Beach: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
  • Birch Cove Beach: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Penhorn Beach: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

For information on beach closures, call our summer aquatics line at 902.490.5458.

Swimming lessons

To register for swimming lessons for summer 2025 visit our website in late spring 2025 to view registration dates. At that time, you can also call our registration line at 902. 490.6666.  All lessons must be pre-booked.

Outdoor pools

Outdoor Pool Name Location Status Lifeguard Supervision
Outdoor Pool Name Location Status Lifeguard Supervision
Bedford Outdoor Pool Shore Drive, Bedford Closed July 1- August 31, 2024
Halifax Common Pool Central Commons, Halifax Closed June 15 - September 15, 2024
Cole Harbour Outdoor Pool 609 Colby Drive, Cole Harbour Closed July 1- August 31, 2024

Outdoor pool memberships: 

Bedford Outdoor Pool memberships can be purchased in-person at Lebrun Recreation Centre (36 Holland Ave. Bedford)

Cole Harbour Outdoor Pool memberships can be purchased in-person at Cole Harbour Recreation Centre (1216 Cole Harbour Rd.)

Outdoor Pool Membership Fees

Summer 2024
Membership Fee (including tax)
Membership Fee (including tax)
Adult $83.75
Household $167.51
Youth/Student/Senior $62.81

Outdoor Pools will no longer be offering paid private pool rentals on weekends, allowing for more open swims for the public.  Groups are welcome to attend public swims. You are asked to come early to secure your spots as swims fill quickly!

Please Note Pool Ratios: 1 adult for every 3 children under the age of 8.

Payment for open swims and lane swims will be taken directly at the pools via cash, credit, or debit.  There is no requirement to pre-book swims.

Swim Fees: $2 (tax included) per person per swim.

 * Swimming at the Halifax Commons Outdoor Pool is FREE

Splash pads

Splash pads across the municipality are now open.

Splash pads

Splash Pad Name Location June 14-27, 2024 June 28 -September 2, 2024 September 3-14, 2024 Supervision Status
Splash Pad Name Location June 14-27, 2024 June 28 -September 2, 2024 September 3-14, 2024 Supervision Status
Bayers WestWood Splash Pad 3315 Romans Avenue, Halifax M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 3:30-8:30pm No Closed
Cole Harbour Splash Pad 609 Colby Drive, Cole Harbour M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 3:30-8:30pm No Closed
Halifax Common Splash Pad Central Commons, Halifax M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 3:30-8:30pm No Closed
George Dixon Centre Gottingen St., Halifax M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 3:30-8:30pm No Closed
Isleville St Playground Sebastian St., Halifax M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 3:30-8:30pm No Closed
Sackville Splash Pad First Lake Drive, Lower Sackville Daily 11am-7pm Daily 11am-7pm Daily 11am-7pm No Closed
Westmount School Edward Arab Ave. M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 3:30-8:30pm No Closed
Shirley's Splash pad Dartmouth Commons M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 9:30am-8:30pm Daily 3:30-8:30pm No Closed