Pool and Swimming Guide to Milwaukee’s North Shore 2026

The outdoor pool at Elite in Mequon

From community pools to year-round swim schools and membership clubs, Milwaukee’s North Shore offers plenty of ways to get in the water.

This guide covers outdoor swimming, indoor pools, swim lessons and youth teams in Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Glendale, Brown Deer, Fox Point, River Hills and Mequon.

Looking for something bigger? Explore our guides to outdoor water parks near Milwaukee, Milwaukee-area splash pads and the best beaches along Milwaukee’s North Shore.

Public outdoor pools and swimming areas

Mequon Community Pool

11335 N. Cedarburg Road, Mequon

The Mequon Community Pool is the North Shore’s primary public outdoor pool. It includes a three-foot shallow end, a 12-foot diving well with diving boards and a separate zero-depth wading pool for younger children.

For 2026, the pool opened for the full season on June 11. Regular hours are:

• Monday–Friday: noon–7 p.m.

• Saturday–Sunday: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Hours are weather-dependent. The city also schedules food trucks and special events, including a cardboard regatta and the end-of-season Dog Days event. Evening pool rentals are available from 7 to 9 p.m. Check the official page for 2026 admission fees and pool-pass information.

A major renovation is also being planned. The city approved design work in 2026 for an estimated $10 million overhaul that could include lap lanes, a water slide, concessions and a new bathhouse. Construction is currently expected to begin after the 2027 season, although final plans have not been released.

Brown Deer Pond

4920 W. Green Brook Drive, Brown Deer

Brown Deer Pond feels more like a small inland beach than a traditional pool. The one-acre, sand-bottom swimming facility is chlorinated, has a zero-depth entrance and reaches approximately 12 feet near its swimming platform. Lifeguards and concessions are available during operating hours.

The 2026 season runs June 13 through August 16, with regular hours from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free for children 2 and younger, with reduced rates for younger children and Brown Deer residents.

This is one of the best affordable choices for families that want a beach-style outing without dealing with Lake Michigan waves and water temperatures.

Public and community indoor pools

Whitefish Bay High School Field House Pool

1200 E. Fairmount Ave., Whitefish Bay

Whitefish Bay Recreation offers open swim, lap swim and aquatic programming at the high school’s indoor pool. Availability changes with school activities, athletic seasons and recreation programming, so check the current schedule before visiting.

The district currently lists open-swim admission at $3 per child and $4 per adult. Children 3 and younger and adults 55 and older swim free. The pool also hosts youth lessons and other recreation programs.

Shorewood Community Pool

Shorewood High School, 1701 E. Capitol Drive, Shorewood

Shorewood’s indoor pool offers adult lap swim and all-ages community swim during designated hours. Swimming is included with a Shorewood Community Fitness Center membership, but residents and nonresidents can also purchase single-use or 20-visit passes.

Current single-swim rates are:

• Adults: $6 resident/$8 nonresident

• Seniors: $5 resident/$7 nonresident

• Youth: $5 resident/$7 nonresident

• Children 5 and younger: free

Passes must be purchased at the Community Fitness Center before entering the pool; lifeguards do not accept payments on deck. Consult the official aquatics page because hours change around school events, maintenance and holidays.

Nicolet Recreation Department Aquatics

6701 N. Jean Nicolet Road, Glendale

Nicolet Recreation operates aquatic programming at Nicolet High School and, depending on the season, Glen Hills Middle School. Offerings can include lap swimming, open swim, lessons, water exercise and youth team programs.

Schedules and locations shift throughout the year, so search the current Nicolet Recreation registration portal before heading over.

Homestead High School adult morning swimming

5000 W. Mequon Road, Mequon

The Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department provides early-morning access to the Homestead High School pool for adult residents. The current program operates from 5:30 to 6:50 a.m. on weekdays and also includes access to the school’s field house and fitness center.

This is primarily a fitness option, not a family open-swim program.

Membership-based pools

Elite Sports Clubs — Mequon

11616 N. Port Washington Road, Mequon

Elite’s Mequon club has two indoor saltwater pools and two outdoor saltwater pools. The indoor facilities support lap swimming, instructional programs and year-round aquatic exercise, while the outdoor pools are a major summer attraction for member families.

Swim lessons are available for children and adults, but Elite’s lessons and regular pool access are for members.

Elite Sports Clubs — River Glen

2001 W. Good Hope Road, Glendale

River Glen has two indoor saltwater pools and one outdoor saltwater pool, along with a seasonal outdoor grill and family programming. It is another strong year-round choice for families who want swimming combined with fitness, tennis and youth activities.

Important clarification: Elite’s North Shore location at 5750 N. Glen Park Road is a fitness and racquet club but is not listed among Elite’s aquatic locations.

JCC Peck Aquatic Center

6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Whitefish Bay

The Peck Aquatic Center at the Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC includes a six-lane, 25-yard lap pool, diving board, accessibility lift and a warm teaching pool ranging from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 6 inches deep. The facility uses UV filtration designed to make the water easier on swimmers’ eyes and skin.

Regular pool access is primarily a JCC membership benefit. However, many lessons, adaptive aquatics programs and youth activities are open to community participants at nonmember rates. Prospective members may also request a tour or guest pass.

Check the current Peck Aquatic Center schedule for lap swimming, family open swim and program times.

Wisconsin Athletic Club — North Shore

7601 N. Port Washington Road, Glendale

The North Shore WAC has indoor lap and exercise pools, a whirlpool, water exercise classes and scheduled family-swim periods. Regular pool access is tied to WAC membership.

Unlike some private athletic-club programs, WAC swim lessons are available to both members and nonmembers. Private lessons and recurring group sessions are offered for different ages and abilities.

Private swim and country clubs

Several North Shore clubs offer seasonal outdoor swimming as part of a broader private membership:

• North Shore Country Club in Mequon

• The Town Club in Fox Point, which has two pools, lessons, synchronized swimming, diving and a summer swim team

• River Tennis Club in River Hills, which offers summer swimming, lessons and a junior team

• River Club of Mequon, which has a large outdoor pool and a children’s splash area with fountains, geysers and a tot slide

These facilities require membership, and guest policies and aquatic schedules vary by club.

North Shore swim lessons

Goldfish Swim School — Bayshore

540 W. Silver Spring Drive, Glendale

Goldfish offers year-round lessons for children ages 4 months through 12 years in a 90-degree indoor pool. Standard group lessons are 30 minutes, generally with a four-to-one swimmer-to-instructor ratio.

The Bayshore location also offers family-swim periods that do not require membership, advanced Swim Force programming, seasonal clinics and pool parties. Check the school’s schedule because family-swim times and lesson availability can change.

SPLASH! Swim School

10636 N. Commerce St., Mequon

SPLASH! is a year-round indoor swim school specializing in small-group instruction for babies and children. Its warm-water setting makes it especially appealing for young swimmers who are still getting comfortable in the water.

Classes emphasize water safety, confidence and progressive skill development. Families can schedule lessons or request help finding the appropriate class level through the school’s website.

JCC swim lessons

The JCC offers preschool and youth swim lessons in its teaching and lap pools. Beginner classes focus on comfort and basic water skills before progressing into stroke development. Community registration is available, although JCC members receive preferred pricing and registration benefits.

Elite swim lessons

Elite offers parent-child classes, progressive youth lessons and adult instruction at its Mequon and River Glen clubs. Lessons are limited to Elite members.

Schroeder Swim School

9240 N. Green Bay Road, Brown Deer

Schroeder Swim School offers structured sessions at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center. The larger Schroeder program includes swim lessons, novice development, competitive swimming, diving and adult swimming.

It is a particularly good option for children who may eventually want to move from lessons into competitive swimming.

Youth swim teams

JCC Triggerfish

Triggerfish is an introductory team for swimmers ages 6 to 14 who have completed the equivalent of American Red Cross Youth Level 3. Practices cover the four competitive strokes, starts, turns and basic team expectations without immediately placing children in a high-pressure competitive environment.

Both standard and inclusive options have been offered.

Nicolet Junior Knights

The Junior Knights program serves children who already have basic swimming ability and want to develop stronger recreational or competitive skills.

Schroeder and Nicolet also partner on White, Light Blue and Dark Blue Knights novice programs for different age groups.

Schroeder Swim Team

Schroeder offers novice and competitive pathways at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center and Nicolet High School. This is the area’s most developed option for swimmers seeking year-round training and higher-level competition.

Goldfish Swim Force

Goldfish’s Swim Force program gives advanced students ages 5 to 12 an introduction to team-style swimming and the four competitive strokes. It is a bridge between recreational lessons and more formal club competition.

What’s up with the Fox Point Pool?

The former Fox Point Municipal Pool is no longer operating. The village closed it in 2023 after determining that plumbing and mechanical problems could not be repaired with available replacement parts. The Village Board approved a $164,550 demolition contract in March 2025, and the old pool was subsequently removed.

The Village Board previously approved a concept for a replacement aquatics facility at the same Santa Monica Boulevard location. The proposal includes an ADA-accessible pool, playground, outdoor gathering space and year-round community room.

Under the public-private framework, the Friends of the Fox Point Pool is attempting to raise $4 million—approximately half of the anticipated project cost. Its most recent publicly posted fundraising update showed $157,000 in pledges, donations, grants and sponsorships as of February 12, 2026.

No construction date has been announced, and the fundraising group says the more detailed design phase would begin only after it raises roughly one-half to two-thirds of its private-funding target and receives Village Board approval.

Swimming at North Shore beaches

Lake Michigan provides another free option at Atwater Beach, Klode Park, Big Bay Park and Doctor’s Park. Unlike a pool, conditions can change quickly because of waves, currents, cold water and bacteria levels.

Before swimming, check the Wisconsin Beach Health advisory map and any signs posted at the beach. The North Shore Health Department generally tests area beaches twice weekly between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Our North Shore beach guide has more information about parking, access, playgrounds and family amenities.

Bringing your four-legged swimmer instead? See our guide to dog-friendly swimming spots around Milwaukee.

Tips before you go

Pool hours can change for weather, staffing, school activities, swim meets and maintenance. Check the facility’s official schedule on the day of your visit, especially when planning an open swim.

For outdoor pools, pack sunscreen, water, towels and a change of clothes. For school-based pools, review entry instructions carefully—some require advance registration or passes purchased at a separate fitness or recreation desk.