As temperatures soar into triple digits this week, the City of Albuquerque is offering families free ways to cool off through its “Operation Cooldown 2025” initiative, which includes activating park sprinklers and maintaining extended hours at spray pads throughout the city.
The Parks & Recreation Department will turn on sprinklers at 10 different parks over the next two days, providing 30-minute cooling sessions during the hottest part of the afternoon.
On Tuesday, five parks will run sprinklers from 1 to 1:30 p.m., including Briar Ridge Park (7601 Mallard NW), Alamosa Park (1100 Bataan SW), Chelwood Park (13205 San Juan NE), 4-H Park (1401 Menaul NW), and Ridgecrest Park (820 Ridgecrest SE).
Wednesday will see another five parks activate their sprinklers during the same time window: Redlands Park (5121 Sequoia NW), Loma del Norte Park (7511 Burke NE), Singing Arrow Park (12929 Piru SE), Dennis Chavez Park (715 Kathryn SE), and Aztec Park (3400 Moon NE).
The program is designed to provide relief in areas currently without easy access to pool facilities. Each group of parks includes at least one location within the Sunport Pool service area, as that facility remains closed for repairs.
“PRD balances this daytime watering by adjusting irrigation systems to save water at other times,” the department noted in announcing the program.
Coinciding with the start of the school year, the city’s aquatic facilities are transitioning to reduced schedules. All indoor pools have returned to fall and winter operating hours, while outdoor pools will operate on limited schedules through Labor Day.
Rio Grande Pool will be open weekdays for lap swimming from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., though it will be closed on Aug. 5. The facility’s final day of operation for the season is Sept. 1.
Eisenhower, Sierra Vista and Wilson pools will close on weekdays but remain open on weekends through Sept. 1. Montgomery Pool and East San Jose Pool have closed for the season.
For families seeking longer cooling opportunities, several city spray pads remain open with extended hours. The Alamosa, Civic Plaza and North Domingo Baca spray pads operate daily—from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Alamosa and North Domingo Baca, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for Civic Plaza—through Oct. 12.
Wells Park’s spray pad maintains weekend-only hours, operating Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Sept. 1.
The schedule changes reflect typical patterns as schools resume and staffing adjustments occur, according to the Parks & Recreation Department. Reduced demand and funding also factor into the seasonal transitions.
Residents can find complete information about the city’s pools and splash pads at cabq.gov/aquatics.