Garfield Pool

About

Community pool for kids and adults, offering classes and recreational swim times.

The water temperature at Garfield Pool typically averages between 81 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 27-28 degrees Celsius).

What are people saying (AI review summary)? Reviews for this facility are mixed, but predominantly negative regarding operational aspects. Positively, the pool itself is described as nice or decent, and some instructors, particularly for children's swim classes, receive high praise (e.g., Level 4 instructors). However, significant criticisms include extremely limited, chaotic, and inconsistent operating hours, especially for adult lap swimming, making it difficult for those with regular work schedules. Many reviewers cite the pool as underutilized despite high demand, with suggestions for extended and standardized hours, including unguarded adult lap swim options. There are strong complaints about the quality of adult swim instruction, with instructors reportedly providing no guidance, and staff generally being disengaged. Other issues mentioned are the high drop-in cost, overcrowding in lanes, and minor facility concerns such as scant towel hangers, outdated locker mirrors, and no towels provided.

Location

Gallery

Amenities

• Good for Children
• Accepts Credit Cards
• Street Parking
• Accessible Entrance
• Accessible Restroom

Reviews

Listing Reviews

July 3rd, 2025

Oleksandr Yegorov

Brought 7years old daughter for swim classes. Very nice pool and Great Instructors (kudos to level 4 ones). Super impressed after attending smaller private pool and classes. Thank you SF parks and Garfield staff!

July 11th, 2025

Violet TheGreat

They Tool off my Review. Train Staff don‘t care at all and just walk by the Pool without giving any instructions! Update: I took a course for adult swimming lessons, intermediate level and the instructor didn’t give a single, I repeat a single hint on what I should be doing. He was walking by the pool and when I insisted, just said you’re fine!!! After three sessions and speaking with the front desk, they said this is a known issue but due ti not having enough written complaints, there wasn’t much they could do so I dropped!

July 25th, 2023

Jesus Galaz-Montoya

Pretty decent pool, except towel hangers in the showers are quite scant, the lap swimming might open slightly late (as opposed to on time or 5 minutes ahead of time to allow time to change into your swimming suit), and the cost is pricey: was $7 for a drop-in, now $8. If you went every day in the month, that'd be over $150 (they're closed Sundays and, very oddly, Mondays). The schedule is a bit chaotic and extremely restricted, with no consistent times every day for lap swimming, making it difficult to develop a healthy, easy-to-follow routine. The pool opens relatively late and closes relatively early, there's little to no chance for people who work a regular 8 am-5 pm shift to come swim here (considering transportation time before and after work to and from the pool), combined with the fact that they're closed two days per week. This pool (and all City pools) are *severely* underutilized in spite of the high demand. It's uncomfortable and potentially risky to swim with 4+ people per lane -you have to be on the lookout *constantly* to make sure you don't bump into people, and it's hard to get into a rhythm with swimmers of different skill, style, stamina, age, and speed, all crammed into the same lane (the lane divisions by speed are intended to help, but ultimately, you still have diversity of swimmers in each lane). A national lifeguard shortage is purported as the reason for the chaotic, restricted hours, but I don't understand why adults can't simply sign a waiver and come swim at their own risk -like at gyms that have swimming pools or the public beaches (neither have life guards). To promote health in the community, the pool should be open 7x per week, and could be open for unguarded, uninterrupted adult lap swim from 5:30 am to 7:30 am + 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm on workdays. Even public high schools in Daly City and Pacifica open their pools 7x per week... and somehow SF can't do it? Plenty more examples in other states. It's embarrassing for the City, honestly.

June 29th, 2025

Louis Lepper

It’s a good pool, but the hours are extremely limited. Please just standardise and have lap swimming available during all opening hours, rather than specific confusing time slots

February 7th, 2023

Karen Wagner

Nice pool the locker area could use some new mirrors and they could step it up a bit with some towels! Just in case like me I forgot mine… but a woman snapped this is not a country club! Apparently not because they probably would not have accepted you 🤣🤣🤣