Dive into summer: Vancouver's outdoor pools and beaches open this weekend

Even if the forecast for this Victoria Day weekend isn't all that bright, the Vancouver Park Board's announcement that outdoor pools will open, is a sure sign of summer.

Starting Saturday, the outdoor poolatKitsilanoBeach Park, Second Beach in Stanley Park, NewBrightonPark and Hillcrest Centrewill be open. Maple Grove Pool in Kerrisdale will open on June 18.

Summer staffing also begins for park rangers and lifeguards. Lifeguardswill patrol11 supervised bathing beaches in the city through to the Labour Dayweekend.

All of the city's water parks are also now open except for Lumberman's Arch, which is undergoing repairs and will open in June.

The waterparks now all have push buttons so they can continue to operate even if water restrictions come into place.

"If you're in one of the spray parks and hit one of the buttons, you get five minutes of water and that allows us to continue through the water restrictions," saidShauna Wilton, acting director of recreation with theVancouver Park Board.

The Vancouver Park Board reminds visitors that all beaches and parks are smoke-free and while voluntary compliance through education is their main goal, rangers can issue fines.

With files from the CBC's The Early Edition and Margaret Gallagher.

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