By Rebecca A. Boucher

Summer is fast approaching and the Benjamin Hill Park Committee has been busy getting the pool and grounds ready to open for the season on Memorial Day weekend. Our plan is to open the pool Saturday May 23, 2026. Beginning on that date the pool will be open weekends only; once the schools are out for the summer, the pool will be open daily.

The pool is a busy place all summer. Many area summer camps and child care centers visit our pool. Weekday mornings are when most of our swimming lessons take place. Seven one-week sessions are available beginning on Monday, June 22. Swim lesson registration forms are available online and include class level descriptions so parents can choose the best fit for their child.

Open swim hours for family, individual and senior memberships and daily users are 1 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. Membership applications are available online. Daily users are $12 per person per day. Please be sure to read through our 2026 Pool Operations and Rules as this document explains everything you need to know before you come to the pool.

On weeknights, the pool is used for practice by the Penguins Swim Team. (Contact the Shirley Recreation Committee for more information about joining the team.) The pool facilities can be rented for parties on weekend mornings and Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. The party rental form is also available online. Party times fill up quickly so don’t delay if you’re planning to book the pool for a party.

You can find all our forms and detailed information about the pool online at www.shirley-ma.gov/bhp.  We look forward to seeing you all make a splash this summer!

Rebecca Boucher is a 16-year resident of Shirley. An active mother of three employed in the property valuation field, she is also a member of the Benjamin Hill Park Committee and the Shirley Meeting House Board of Directors.