Gainesville summer 2027: city day camps, Earth Academy at Morningside, three city pools with Mickle Pool open Memorial Day to Labor Day, and Depot Park's splash pad.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Summer 2027 camp dates and pool schedules have not been posted yet; details below are from the City of Gainesville’s most recent pages, labeled by year: summer camps, pools and Depot Park. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs: 352-334-5067.
Alachua County Public Schools let out Friday, May 28, 2027, and Gainesville’s summer runs from Memorial Day weekend, when Mickle Pool opens, to Labor Day. The city runs day camps for elementary and middle school students, a nature camp at Morningside Nature Center, three public pools and the splash pad at Depot Park. Registration opens in early spring and camps fill quickly.
What this means for you
- Last day of school: Friday, May 28, 2027
- Camp registration: opened March 3 for city residents and March 17 for everyone in 2025; watch for 2027 dates
- Pools: Hunter and Cherry pools year-round; Mickle Pool Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend
- Questions: 352-334-5067, rec@gainesvillefl.gov
City day camps (2025 details, for reference)
| Camp | Who | Where | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventures in Play Summer Day Camp | Entering grades 1 to 5 | Albert “Ray” Massey Recreation Center, 1001 NW 34th St.; Eastside Community Center, 2841 E. University Ave.; drop-off at Clarence R. Kelly Center, 1701 NE Eighth Ave. | 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays; eight one-week sessions, June 9 to Aug. 1, 2025 |
| Teen Life Summer Day Camp | Entering grades 6 to 8 | T.B. McPherson Recreation Center, 1717 SE 15th St. | Summer weeks, weekdays |
| Earth Academy Day Camp | Rising grades 1 to 6 | Morningside Nature Center | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; five one-week sessions in 2025 |
Each camp has themed weeks; the 2025 Adventures in Play program ran from “Sensational Week” to “Galactic Explorers,” with no camp on Juneteenth or the Fourth of July. Camps follow the Alachua County Public Schools calendar. Proof of city residency (a GRU bill or voter ID) is needed for resident rates.
How to register: online through each camp’s ActiveNet link on the city’s summer camps page, or in person at the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs office, Thomas Center Building B, third floor, 306 NE Sixth Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Spots are first come, first served, with a free waiting list.
Scholarships: families who qualify for free lunch, receive SNAP or TANF, or meet federal poverty guidelines can apply for a scholarship covering the city-resident camp fee; eligible families not selected get 50% off, the city says. Earth Academy has separate scholarships through Friends of Nature Parks.
Teens: rising 7th to 12th graders can apply to volunteer as Earth Academy Junior Naturalists. In 2026 the city’s Summer Blitz brought more than 30 summer programs together for one-stop sign-ups at the MLK Center, 1028 NE 14th St., on Saturday, March 7. We will add the 2027 date when the city posts it.
Other organizations run camps too, from the Cade Museum’s camps to sports camps; see our kids’ activities guide.
City pools
| Pool | Address | Phone | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwight H. Hunter Pool (Northeast Pool) | 1100 NE 14th St. | 352-334-2191 | Year-round; has water play |
| H. Spurgeon Cherry Pool (Westside Pool) | 946 NW 31st Drive | 352-334-2187 | Year-round |
| Andrew R. Mickle Sr. Pool | 1717 SE 15th St. | 352-334-2190 | Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend |
In summer 2025 Hunter Pool opened for open swim from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and noon to 6 p.m. weekends, with lap swim early and late; Mickle Pool ran 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and noon to 6 p.m. weekends. Each pool posts its current hours on its page.
Pool rules to know: every swimmer takes a swim test, and a child who cannot pass must have an adult in the water; only swim diapers are allowed; and pools clear when lightning is within 10 miles. Season passes, good at all three pools for six months, are sold at the Thomas Center office; call 352-334-5067.
Free pool day: in July 2025 the city opened Mickle and Hunter pools free to children 17 and under from noon to 6 p.m. for Park and Recreation Month.
Splash pads and water play
- Depot Park, 874 SE Fourth St.: the splash pad and water-play area next to the playground. The play area is open 7 a.m. to sunset, and it is free.
- Dwight H. Hunter Pool lists water play among its features.
More free outdoor options are on our parks and trails guide.
What this means for you
- Mark early March: city camp registration opened then in 2025, residents first.
- Have proof of residency ready to get the city rate.
- Pools clear for lightning and do not give refunds, so check the sky before you pay.
Related: Memorial Day, Fourth of July fireworks and Father’s Day.
Frequently asked questions
When do Gainesville pools open for summer?
The city’s Northeast (Dwight H. Hunter) and Westside (H. Spurgeon Cherry) pools are open year-round. Mickle Pool opens Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day weekend, weather permitting.
When does City of Gainesville summer camp registration open?
In 2025 registration opened in early March, first for city residents and two weeks later for everyone. Dates for 2027 will be on the city’s summer camps page.
Where is the splash pad in Gainesville?
Depot Park, 874 SE Fourth St., has the city’s best-known splash pad and water-play area, with the play area open from 7 a.m. to sunset.
Are there summer camp scholarships in Gainesville?
Yes. The city offers summer camp scholarships to families who qualify for free lunch, receive SNAP or TANF, or meet income guidelines. Call 352-334-5067.
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