Foster Pool

Nice clean facility, admission cost very adorable, awesome location with the lake, park and play grounds around you. Will definitely bring my children here in the future, love how they take a 15 min break every hour for the kids, and you can bring your own picnic basket.

I’ve been coming here since a tyke, lots of memories here. Along with the whole surrounding area. We used to come here and sneak in any way possible. If not, we would go to Madison Park and try to sneak into their pool, I think I have a better Madison Pool record to be honest. I like that the diving board is not separate from the main pool. Only the infants pool is separate, which is a good thing.
There’s two sides, the East side is more for the kids, so for the adults stay on the West end for a more relaxed swim. The lane is for exercise, swim your laps, enjoy the day. Summers too short in Cleveland as you are all aware. If you’re not aware, you’ll find out the hard way when it’s snowing one day when it was 65 the day before. That’s why it’s imperative you take advantage of the pool while you can, TAKE ADVANTAGE MAN!
I found out this year the snack bar does not, I repeat, DOES NOT carry Za anymore, that’s pizza for the rest of the normal world. If you by chance call it Za, get off my Unilocal page, please. I was definitely disappointed to find this out. They have good prices and you can order from the park too, which is cool for the days you’re not at the pool and still would like a snack.

There’s something decadent about a pool so close to a large body of water, but this pool has no fish, unidentifiable floating objects, plant life, sucking current or bone-​crushing breakwalls. Sold.
Big, clear, lots of lounge space and very well kept. My only gripes are that the adult hours and prices are inconsistent on the website with what we actually experienced upon our visit and also, where are the chairs? Surely with what folks in Lakewood pay for taxes and fees, there’s enough left in the kitty to buy some functional chaise lounges amiright? You can (and should) bring your own, but that seems a little odd.
Apart from that, the layout is great and the price is right. I suspect I’ll be spending *a lot* of time here this summer. With a chair.
PS — that picture with the slide? That’s the other Lakewood pool. This one has a diving board only.

Thank god for this pool, which has special separate pools for kids (a kid’s section as well as a wading pool with a fountain in the middle). It was soooo hot today and this was so necessary. Only $ 4 to get in if you’re a Lakewood resident, $ 5.50 if you’re not, but I think the summer passes are pretty affordable.
Plenty of lifeguards, shaded areas to rest and eat, and large (albeit kinda gross) locker rooms/​bathrooms.
It would be great if I could sometimes participate in the «adult only» swim time, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. However, on a day like today, open swim for all ages was from 11 – 8, so that’s awesome! They stamped my hand when I left like I was in a club. Ha ha. But that’s cool, because maybe you want to take a break and eat lunch, or go to the park or take a walk by the lake for awhile and then return.

«Don’t run. Don’t splash. Don’t dive. Don’t do piggyback rides. Don’t dunk or throw each other. Just sit there and take a bath.»
–Frustrated father of several young children swimming at Foster Pool
This father’s exasperated instructions to his kids pretty much sums up what you can expect at Foster Pool, the Olympic-​sized public swimming pool inside Lakewood Park. On a recent visit, the pool’s overzealous lifeguards admonished this father’s children for so many «infractions» that the poor dad just threw up his hands in disbelief.
I’m all for rules that benefit a large public gathering, but Foster Pool goes a bit overboard, taking all of the fun out of swimming on a hot summer day with its many rules and regulations. Be prepared to sit in the pool and do little else, as that is about all that is permitted. This makes for a pretty serene swimming experience, but it also makes for a pretty boring one, too.
On a more positive note, the pool is huge and able to accommodate large crowds. Bring a lawn chair if you don’t plan to sit on the hot concrete. A small covered area is available if you need to escape the harsh sun. The pool and associated areas, including the restrooms, are very clean and well maintained. The pool is divided into several areas for general swimming, deep water diving and a wading section for toddlers. There is also a separate, smaller pool with a «mushroom» fountain for babies. Adults are not permitted to use this pool, but must accompany small children.
Lifeguards call a 15-​minute break once an hour, during which adults can remain in the pool if they wish. There is no food or drink permitted in the pool area, but there is a small concession stand and picnic area just a stone’s throw away from it. One rule I do like is that patrons are not allowed to smoke near the pool or on the deck.
Admission is $ 4 for resident adults. Summer passes, giving you unlimited access to the pool, are about $ 40. The pool has adult-​only, family and general swimming, as well as several water exercise classes available for an additional fee. Parking is free.
All in all, Foster Pool is a fun time, but be prepared to be on your best behavior!

This is an excellent public swimming pool. It is large (50 meter by 25 yard Olympic-​size pool) run by the city of Lakewood. It is located on Lake Avenue in the Lakewood Park, adjacent to Lake Erie. It is well maintained, clean, and actually relaxing. They have designated times (mornings) for adults only. They often designate areas of the pool for adults only. Even so, the children who are there are well behaved and the lifeguards keep a lid on splashing and running.
I can not say enough positive things about this pool. A summer pass for residents is only $ 40!
I am too scared to go to the Madison pool as it has multiple waterslides and no doubt crawling with wild children.