Cool by the pool: See 100 years of swimming in metro Phoenix (2025)

ARIZONA

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People swim in the Lazy R &G Ranch pool in 1974.

The Republic
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The Chandler municipal pool was located on the northwest corner of McQueen and Frye Roads, where the BMX track is today. It was built around the time that Chandler became a town in 1912. The pool was a favorite place for Chandler residents to cool down until the late 1950s, when it was closed. Pictured here are members of the Lewis and Armstrong families enjoying a refreshing swim in 1915.

Provided By Chandler Historical Society
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The Cottonwood swimming pool as seen in 1956.

The Republic
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Arizona’s first Olympic-size swimming pool was built in 1923 on the land between First Street and the river bottom, along with a bath house and bleachers and later, an open-air movie theater. The pool was closed in late 1963, and a new pool built in its place. The second pool closed in the early 1980s.

Provided By Tempe Historical Museum
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A guest of Royal Palms Resort and Spa dives into the sweetheart pool circa 1950s.

Provided By Royal Palms Resort And Spa
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A child snorkels in a pool in Arizona in 1969.

The Republic
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First responders help fill up a portable pool is filled up with the help of first responders at Ninth Avenue and Grant Street in Phoenix in 1969.

The Republic
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A boy learns to swim at the YMCA in Phoenix in 1970.

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The Williams family enjoys a summer day at the Camelback Inn on July 14, 1979.

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A swimming race in metro Phoenix in 1979.

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All in the pool in 1979 at Cielito Park in Phoenix.

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Reggie Martinez (far left) Robert Flores, Albert Verdoza and Jaime Flores jump off the side of the Roosevelt pool in 1982.

The Republic
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Kelly McCarthy holds her nose as she jumps in the Encanto Park pool in 1980.

The Republic
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A man falls into cool pool water after a hot day in the sun in 1980.

The Republic
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Swim lessons in Phoenix in 1980.

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A happy swimmer in the metro Phoenix in 1980.

The Republic
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Big Surf water park in Tempe in 1980.

Provided By Tempe History Museum
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Bathers enjoy a pool fed by the namesake waters of Castle Hot Springs in this 1981 photo.

Provided By Arizona Historical Society
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Sliding away in the cool water in Phoenix in 1982.

The Republic
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Learning to swim in Phoenix in 1982.

The Republic
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Popular day for tubing at the river in 1985.

The Republic
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Children jump into a metro Phoenix pool in 1986.

The Republic
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Dale Peevy of Phoenix leaps into the pool at Eastlake Park in 1989.

The Republic
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Heidi McMahon, 13, is lifted by the rest of her team called the Arizona Aqua Stars as they practice their routine at the Kino Jr. High School swimming pool in Mesa in 2003.

Emmanuel Lozano/The Republic
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Clockwise from bottom left, Jesse Yourist, 10, Alec Cerrillo, 10, and Franklin Simmons, 11, all of Surprise, and other summer camp students enjoy the Hollyhock Community Pool in Surprise on Thursday, June 14, 2007.

The Republic
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Payson is just a quick jaunt (less than two hours) from Phoenix but feels like a whole other world with its lush forests and cool lakes. This destination is an excellent spot for horseback riding, hiking, fishing and camping.

Michael Chow/The Republic
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TUBING THE SALT RIVER 2012 | The water is still swift and bracing even late in summer, as these tubers discovered Sept. 2, 2012.

The Republic
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From left, Kristin Carone, Natalie Nazeley, Julie Carone, and Victoria Carone, all from Southern California, swim in the east pool at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013.

Aaron Lavinsky/The Republic
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Guests make a splash down one of the water slides at Big Surf on Sunday, June 23, 2014.

Murphy Bannerman/The Republic
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Guests relax in the Lazy River at Golfland Sunsplash on July 7, 2014.

Murphy Bannerman/The Republic
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Instructor Blaire Hinks, left, teaches Calvin Ramirez, 2, during a swim class at Hubbard Family Swim School in Phoenix on Friday, May 30, 2014.

Michael Schennum/The Republic
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An aerial view of Big Surf in Tempe on July 21, 2016.

David Wallace/The Republic
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Damian Thompson wet his feet in the splash pad at CityScape in downtown Phoenix on June 16, 2016. Temperatures are expected to be 117 degrees in Phoenix on June 19 and June 20, according to the National Weather Service.

David Wallace/The Republic
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The poolside scene during Swim Meet at The Saguaro Scottsdale on Saturday, June 17, 2017.

Melissa Fossum/Special For Azcentral.com
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From left, Emma Eaton, Avery De Alba and Wyatt Valazza listen to their instructor during survival swimming classes at SWIMkids USA in Mesa on June 7, 2017.

Mark Henle/The Republic
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Aila Bowers, 8, puts swim googles on Hayden Bowers, 2, at the Mesquite Aquatic Center pool on July 7, 2017, in Gilbert.

Loren Townsley/The Republic
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Michael Phelps take a lap during a charity swim event, Swim Across America at Kino Aquatic Center on Aug. 28, 2019, in Mesa, Ariz.

Rob Schumacher/The Republic
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Jen Chaillie, 38, of Tempe, who is paralyzed from the chest down, swims laps at Ability360, a Phoenix fitness and community center for people with disabilities, on August 27, 2020. Chaillie regularly worked out at the fitness center at Ability360 and practiced with the wheelchair rugby team the "Phoenix Heat" at Ability360, until all of that was closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She continued to swim in the pool at Ability360, one of the few things that remained open at the fitness center for much of the pandemic.

David Wallace/The Republic
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Khloe Carlisle, 8, helps her brother Stephon Carlisle, 4, put on a life jacket before swimming in Tempe Town Lake in Tempe on May 26, 2020.

Eli Imadali/The Republic
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Ariel Goodall swims with Rocky the horse at Lake Pleasant on July 10, 2023, in Maricopa County.

Megan Mendoza/The Republic
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Israel Cruz, 6, left, swims at the Falcon Pool in Phoenix on July 25, 2023.

Joel Angel Juarez/The Republic
Cool by the pool: See 100 years of swimming in metro Phoenix (2025)
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