Richfield Outdoor Pool

Pretty decent place. One of the few public pools with waterslides and all that jazz. Even on a slow day though it can be hard to find a chair which can be a little annoying at times. The slide is fun, and there are two of them so you can race people down (you’ll often hear kids on the stairs saying «I’ll take the south one, you get the north one» — apparently the south slide is quicker if you’re racing someone down). As is the case with most swimming pool lifeguards (yes, there is a difference between swimming pool lifeguards and beach lifeguards [ocean beach not lake beach]), some of the younger life guards can be a little skittish. For example, I recieved a «talking to» for jumping off the low dive when someone was still in the water. A legitimate concern made excessive by the fact that the other person was over 80 feet away at the other end of the pool. Having grown up on the ocean and doing time in the Coast Guard, being told by someone how to properly jump into the water is a bit of a put off. That being said, they (the lifeguards) are just doing their jobs so its good to know that they’re actually keeping an eye on people.
Other than that, pretty decent pool. Its clean and they do a good job of making sure kids don’t carry their food over to the water so no worrying about hot dogs floating past while you’re swimming. Definitely worth stopping by on a hot summer day.

Right off the bat, here are the downsides to the Richfield Public Pool: The summer pass is about $ 80, sometimes it is tough to find a spot in the shade, and sometimes it can be PACKED with day camps or YMCA kid clubs.
Now, all the good stuff: It is REALLY close making it easy for the quick dip on a hot day. The $ 80 pass is a little steep, but again it makes it easy to drop in and leave quick if needed for nap times or whatever.
Has a great splash pad thing for little ones, a dual water slide, and diving boards for bigger kids. They also recently added adult lap swim times. They also have a snack bar and, though I have never used it, is a nice thing to have on hand.
I can’t imagine coming here without kids, but for moms and dads looking for a great local pool, this is it. it is a lot like the Edina Pool near 62 and France, but without the attitude, pretentiousness, and all that. And not quite as nice, but still very worthwhile.
My kids love it, I feel like my stuff is safe and secure when I go hop in the pool with them, and (given enough visits in a summer) the summer pass can be a great deal.