Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility
View Schedule
M-Th: 4-9 p.m.
F: Special events only
Sa-Su: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
TRAINING POOL
Sa-Su: 2-6:30 p.m.
Summer M-F: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
SEASONAL HOURS
June 15–August 16 | M-Su: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
View annual holiday hours (federal & observed holidays)
*Pool closes 15 minutes prior to facility closure
At a Glance
Directions: 3795 W Braddock Rd
Contact Us: 703.746.5479
Center Director: Bailey Stapleton
AMENITIES
- Competition-standard Pool (lap swim)
- DASH Bus Stop
- Free Parking Lot
- Locker Rooms
- Pool/Classroom Rental
- Smaller Accessible Training Pool for Therapeutic Swimming (10 degrees warmer; Open Swim)
Know Before You Go
Accessing the Facility
Park in the Minnie Howard Campus lot and walk along the Braddock Rd. sidewalk. Turn right at the Alexandria City HS Athletic Center & Fields sign, follow the fenced asphalt, and enter Door 8 (Athletic Center). Upper lot near fields open during recreation hours. ADA accommodations: 703.746.5479
Pass & Daily Visit Fees
POOL DAILY ADMISSION FEES
| Resident | Non-resident | |
| Child (0-4) | $0 | $2 |
| Youth (5-17) | $6 | $7 |
| Adult (18+) | $9 | $12 |
| Senior (60+) | $7 | $12 |
| Adult Chaperone with Youth (not participating) | $1 | $4 |
Facility Rental
| Per hour | Residents | Non-residents |
| Lane Rental | $35 | $55 |
| Classroom | $59 | $79 |
For a complete list of RPCA facilities and park rentals, visit alexandriava.gov/parks/rentals.
Financial Assistance
- Learn more and access resources: Financial Assistance Information
- Policy: Financial Assistance Policy
- Application: English | Español | አማርኛ | العربية
- Submit in person at the pool or email to Chinquapin@alexandriava.gov
- Questions? Call 703.746.5414 or (TTY) 703.838.4902
Guest & Youth Safety Policy
Teens 13–17 must be supervised by a paying adult (18+) unless a Teen Registration Form is on file. Children 12 & under must be with an adult at all times; ages 5 & under require the adult in the water within arm’s reach. Guests 13+ must show a photo ID. This ensures safety for everyone at the pool.
Explore the Center
Pool Tips & Rules
ATTIRE:
- Proper swimwear is required at all times. Swimwear should be tight-fitting, clean, and water-safe. Pool attire should be clean and water safe. Prohibited items include denim, excessively loose or bulky clothing, street shoes, and thong bottoms. Unsure? Ask a staff member.
Bathers who are not toilet-trained or who are incontinent must wear a swim diaper or tight-fitting plastic pants.
ADMISSION:
- Guests must shower before each entry into the pool.
- Only pass holders, daily admission guests, and registered participants are allowed in the pool area.
- Only service animals are welcome.
- Teens 13–17 must be supervised within direct line of sight by a paying adult (18+) unless a Teen Registration Form is on file. Children 12 & under must be with an adult at all times; ages 5 & under require the adult in the water within arm’s reach. Guests 13+ must show a photo ID. This ensures safety for everyone at the pool.
- Follow usage policies and age guidelines posted in each activity area.
- Patrons known to have or suspected of having a communicable or skin disease, diarrhea in the past two weeks, open wounds, inflamed eyes, or nasal or ear discharge, are not permitted in the pool.
- The following are not permitted: firearms, alcohol, illegal drugs, smoking and smokeless tobacco, gum, food in activity areas, and inappropriate behavior and language.
DIVING CONDUCT:
- Diving area consists of diving board, ladder, and diving well.
- Only one guest is permitted on the diving board at a time.
- Each guest must wait to climb the ladder until the diving well is clear.
- Catching guests off the board is not permitted.
- Guests may only spring on the board once.
- Guests may only dive straight off the end of the board. Flips, cartwheels, and handstands are prohibited.
- Goggles and flotation devices may not be worn, while diving off the board.
- Guests must swim directly to the nearest ladder and exit the pool.
- General swimming is permitted in the diving well area when the diving boards are closed and lifeguard is in stand.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE:
- Food is prohibited in the pool area and locker rooms.
- Use resealable, non-glass beverage containers.
LOCKER ROOMS AND SHOWERS:
- Men's, women's, and universal locker rooms with showers are available at each pool. You may bring a lock for a day-use locker or bring your personal items to the pool deck.
- City of Alexandria is not responsible for lost or stolen articles. Please secure all belongings with personal locks in the lockers provided, not on the floor or surrounding areas. All lockers will be emptied nightly, so please remove belongings and locks when finished.
- Children with special needs or under age six may use the opposite gender’s locker room accompanied by a guardian. Guardians must protect the privacy of other users. (RPCA 9.7)
- Video and photography are prohibited in locker rooms.
- Do not use razors or shaving items in showers.
- Conserve water. Please limit showers to 15 minutes.
- Loitering is prohibited.
POOL ITEMS:
- Ask staff before bringing pool toys or swim gear from home.
- Only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are allowed. No inflatable floats or water wings. Anyone wearing a life jacket must stay within arm’s reach of an adult.
- Swim training equipment is authorized for instructed class or program use only unless staff provides approval.
- Staff may remove any item for safety reasons. Free life jackets are available to borrow.
POOL AND SWIM CONDUCT:
- Do not drink pool water.
- Video and still photography are only permitted with permission.
- Children four years and under or non-proficient swimmers should remain in shallow area or must be within arm’s reach of an adult while in the pool.
- Lap swim is permitted in designated areas. When more than two swimmers are in a lane, please circle swim counter-clockwise.
- City staff may prohibit any behavior deemed unsafe or disruptive. Diving, pushing, back dives, flips, spins from the side of the pool, prolonged underwater swimming, and breath-holding are prohibited.
- Lane or Zone Assignment: Lanes and zones are designated for lap swim, open swim, programs, and rentals. A staff member can assist you with finding a lane or zone for your visit.
SAFETY BREAKS:
- When the weather is hot or the pool is crowded, lifeguards will blow their whistles to signal safety breaks from the 45-minute mark to the top of the hour, hourly. During safety breaks, only adults may remain in the water, and some zones may be closed (such as diving boards and the training pool). Safety breaks are a great time for lifeguards and swimmers to get some shade, rehydrate, use the restroom, and reapply sunscreen to ensure that the fun can safely continue after the break.
Inclement Weather:
- Participants in an aquatic class cancelled due to inclement weather may receive a credit for the missed class depending on how much time was lost; credits are applied at the end of the season.
Open swimming is first-come, first-served on a drop-in basis. Adult swimmers and youth swimmers* can use the diving well when available.
*Youth swimmers must pass the swim test before going to the diving well or using the diving board. Please see a staff member to take the swim test and get a wristband upon successful completion of the test.
Safety Swim Test
Enter the water and submerge head and continue.
Swim the length of the pool (25 yards) without stopping and demonstrating freestyle or breaststroke with good breath control (no 'heads up' swimming) and remaining on their front.
Tread water for 30 seconds.
Lap swimming is first-come, first-served on a drop-in basis. When swimming in a lane with other swimmers, please let others know you are entering the lane. For 2 swimmers, split the lane, with each swimmer staying on 1 side of the pool respectively; for 3+ swimmers, circle swim counterclockwise (always stay to your right).
Other City Pools
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