Pools Open for Summer in Los Angeles. Plus free swm lessons.

Marking the official start of summer, city and county pools will open Saturday just as temperatures in the San Fernando Valley are expected to reach more than 80 degrees, reports Susan Abram.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will kick off the season today, with an opening of a pool and waterslide at the renovated Jackie Tatum/Harvard Aquatic Center in South Los Angeles. Check out the guide in the attached PDF to find out about your pool.

More than 30 seasonal pools citywide are expected to remain open Saturday through Labor Day. Year-round pools also will begin their summer schedule Saturday. I go to the EPIC pool at Menlo and King in Expo Park where they held events for the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. Not only do they have an olympic pool but a beach-like pool with sprinklers and other fun stuff.

While the city weighs its heavy budget deficit, programs at the city pools will continue, including Operation Splash, a $1.7 million program funded by Kaiser Permanente that allows about 6,000 children and their parents to learn to swim for free. The program also provides junior lifeguard classes for an additional 700 youth.

"The department's swimming program is so important to neighborhoods throughout the city, adding exercise, engagement and fun for young people," Jon Kirk Mukri, general manager of the City's Department of Recreation and Parks.. "While we deal with budget cuts, we continue to be committed to dealing with serving our park, program and pool patrons."

Admission to seasonal pools is free for children age 17 or younger and seniors age 65 and older, people with disabilities and youth. Adults ages 18-64 pay $2.50; those with a city library card pay $2.

For information, call your nearest pool or city Recreation and Parks at 323-906-7953.