Oshawa is located in the Durham region north of Lake Ontario, about a forty-five minute drive west of Toronto. The city offers a mix of culture, nature and shopping with several major festivals, international cuisine, 2,100 acres of park-designated land and the largest mall in the Durham area. Swimming spots abound in Oshawa and all welcome children and babies.
Oshawa offers four indoor pools from which to choose. Centennial Pool holds Parent & Tot Swim every day and has a pool specifically for tots. Donovan Recreation Complex Pool, Legends Centre Pool and South Oshawa Community Centre Pool all offer family swim times. Legends Centre Pool has accessible entry (zero depth) into the pool for people who are unable to use steps. All pools include a family change room and lifeguards are always on duty. Babies must wear diapers intended for pool use and a parent must accompany children under six. No more than two children are permitted per parent or guardian. Adult admission (18 to 64 years) for all pools is $3.80CAD, while children under five are admitted for $2.45CAD.
In addition to four indoor pools, Oshawa also maintains two outdoor pools: the Camp Samac Pool and Rotary Pool. These are only open from June 26 to September 3. Note the shallowest area of these pools is three feet, so you must either carry your baby or secure him or her in a floatable device which you are firmly gripping. The pools are heated and changing rooms are available. All indoor pool rules and rates apply to outdoor pools as well. The outdoor pools do not have designated family or tot swim times.
Lakeview Park, located on a six mile waterfront trail, contains a shallow, sandy beach with tree-studded picnic areas and food vendors. The beach has a small playground and a walking pier stretches out into the water. Washrooms are available May 1 to October 1. Lifeguards supervise Lakeview Park from June 21 to September 6 every day from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm. Local patrons and visitors can access the beach from Simcoe St. South.
In addition to Lakeview Park, Oshawa also offers another beach at Darlington Provincial Park. The beach is shallow and ideal for swimming, but is unsupervised. Flush toilets are located nearby. Camping is also available, but you must reserve space ahead of time and rates vary depending on site location, time of year and availability. Call 1-888-668-7275 to make a reservation.
