Summer in Hoover: Hoover Met sports camps, Aldridge Gardens camps, the free EXPLORE splash pad from May 15, the Rec Center pool and Oak Mountain beaches.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Summer 2027 camp dates are added as the organizers post them; until then, 2026 details are shown and marked. Every fact comes from the organizer’s own page, linked below. Camp fees are on each organizer’s site.

Hoover City Schools let out Thursday, May 27, 2027, according to the district’s 2026-27 calendar. The free EXPLORE splash pad opens before that, on May 15. Most day camps run in June and July; register early, because the big ones fill.

At a glance

  • May 15 to Sept. 15: EXPLORE splash pad, free, closed Mondays
  • May 27: last day of school
  • June and July: Hoover Met Complex sports camps and Aldridge Gardens camps (2027 dates to come)
  • All year: Hoover Recreation Center indoor pool, members only; 205-444-7703
  • Hoover Met Complex camps: 205-739-7364

Splash pad: EXPLORE at the Hoover Met Complex

The EXPLORE Playground and Splash Pad, 1060 RV Trace, is free for Hoover residents and visitors alike. The 7,000-square-foot splash pad is open May 15 to Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, and closed Mondays for cleaning. The 15,000-square-foot inclusive playground beside it is open every day from sunrise to sunset, all year. Rules from the complex:

  • The splash pad closes at the first sound of thunder.
  • No pets, food, glass, bikes or scooters on the splash pad.
  • Outside food is allowed in the area, but not on the pad itself.

Pools

Hoover Recreation Center indoor pool, Municipal Drive. The pool is for members; Hoover residents can join a single aquatics program with a program pass, according to the city’s Aquatics page. Lifeguards are Red Cross certified. Pool hours, from the city’s pool schedule:

Day Pool hours
Monday to Thursday 5 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Friday 5 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Sunday 1 to 5:45 p.m.

Swimmers must be 15 to swim alone; younger children need a parent or guardian 18 or older on the pool deck, the city says. Call 205-444-7703.

YMCA: the Greystone YMCA, 5414 U.S. 280, has a year-round outdoor recreational pool and a seasonal four-lane lap pool, for members.

Lake beaches: Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham has two sandy beaches, the larger on Double Oak Lake off Terrace Drive and another on Beaver Lake near Flipside Watersports. There is no lifeguard on duty, and pets, alcohol, grills and glass are not allowed on the beach. The park is open 7 a.m. until sunset; 205-620-2520.

Day camps

Hoover Met Complex summer sports camps. The complex, which runs the city’s summer day camp, held seven weekly multi-sport camps from June 1 to July 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for rising first to rising seventh graders who are at least 6, according to its camp page. Before care from 7:30 a.m. and aftercare to 5:30 p.m. were offered, weekly hot lunch was optional, and each week was capped at 100 campers, with an early-bird rate for registration by March 15. The 2027 dates were not posted as of Oct. 17. Questions: camps@hoovermetcomplex.com or 205-739-7364.

Aldridge Gardens summer camps. The gardens’ 2026 summer camps ran Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon for boys and girls entering kindergarten through third grade, with American Girl Doll, S.T.E.A.M., Art in the Gardens and Nature Craft weeks. Space is first come, first served, and pre-registration is required. Call 205-739-6558.

Library summer

The Hoover Public Library opened summer 2026 with a Summer Reading Kickoff from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, May 22, with crafts, activities and treats for the whole family, and closed it with Dog Days of Summer in the Children’s Department from Aug. 1-11, according to its event calendar. The 2027 summer reading dates were not out as of Oct. 17. Library: 200 Municipal Drive, 205-444-7800.

What this means for you

  • The splash pad is free and opens May 15, but plan around Mondays, when it is closed.
  • Watch the Hoover Met Complex and Aldridge Gardens sites in the new year for 2027 camp sign-ups.
  • For swimming outdoors, the nearest public beaches are at Oak Mountain State Park.

Related: Memorial Day, Fourth of July fireworks, kids’ activities and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Hoover splash pad open?

The EXPLORE splash pad at the Hoover Met Complex, 1060 RV Trace, runs May 15 to Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. It is closed Mondays and is free for residents and nonresidents.

Does Hoover have a public pool?

The Hoover Recreation Center has an indoor pool for members. Pool hours are 5 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 5 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5:45 p.m. Sunday. Children under 15 need a parent on the pool deck.

What summer camps are there in Hoover?

In 2026 the Hoover Met Complex ran seven weeks of multi-sport day camps from June 1 to July 17 for rising first to seventh graders, and Aldridge Gardens ran half-day camps for children entering kindergarten through third grade. The 2027 schedules were not posted as of Oct. 17.

When does school end in Hoover in 2027?

Thursday, May 27, 2027, is the last day for Hoover City Schools students, with early dismissal.