Demand heats up at Edmonton outdoor pools as temperatures rise

If you're looking to beat the heat in Edmonton this weekend with a visit to an outdoor pool, you may be out of luck.

The city is still requiring residents to book one-hour time slots on its website.Most pools don't have slots until next week at the earliest. Queen Elizabeth outdoor pool doesn't have an open slot until July 21.

"Some form of booking at outdoor pools will continue throughout the season, however capability limits will increase as staffing continues," a statement from the city reads.

Right now, three outdoor pools are open in the city: Queen Elizabeth, Oliver, and Fred Broadstock.Borden Natural Swimming Pool is set to be the latest outdoor pool to open, at the end of the month.\

If someone can't use their slot, they should cancel online and make itavailable to someone else, according to the city.

The booking system seems to be garnering mixed reviews from residents.

"I love that there's less people in the pool. We were like sardines in years past, so Ilove it,"Analee Tassesaid Thursday at the Queen Elizabeth pool.

"It's worked out, I'm just on the sites as soon as I know that we can book and it's been successful. So I'm happy with it, to be quite honest."

Tasse said she's had success by staying on the site and refreshing, as spots sometimes do come up. She has her next two Thursdays booked.

"I actually do [hope the city continues with the booking program]. Because I find when there's too many people in the pool, like you can barely move," she said.

Olyvia Hadden brought her two kids to Queen Elizabeth pool, and wishes they could have stayed for more than an hour.

"I think that it would be nice to have it open longer,longer time slots," she said.

"An hour goes by so quickly especially with the ones that like to play in the water and with this weather... Yeah, it would be nice."

Hadden said it's more inconvenient to plan around the time slots, but it's easier to enjoy the time with her kids with fewer people around.

Thomas Malottesaid he would rather just be able to come to the pool, but he's okay with this system for now.

"It's protocol but it's still good. You get your time, you get your slots," he said.