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We may be heading into the tail end of the summer season, but public pools are still sloshing with activity. When you feel you can't beat the heat, consider dipping into a public pool near you.

Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation (ENLARGE)
Mountain Park Aquatic Center's outdoor pool – like a mini water park, including a play area for kids and water slides – is open through Labor Day. There's also an indoor pool open all year.
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Alpharetta City Pool

Experience an Olympic-size pool with three diving boards or kick back on the provided lounge chairs. If you'd rather relax in the water, floats are allowed. Parents introduce tiny tots to swimming in the shaded baby pool. A concession area shills snacks, but food and drinks can be brought in from outside, too. Special events take place each summer, including the recent dive-in movie. Next up on Aug. 8 is an opening-night Summer Olympics bash with games and a viewing party ($3 per person).

• THE 411: $3 per person; free for ages 3 and younger. Open daily through Aug. 10. From Aug. 11 through Labor Day, open Thursdays-Sundays only. 1-6 p.m. Mondays for Alpharetta city residents and pool pass holders only; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7:15-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 9-10 a.m. (lap swimming only) and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays; noon-8 p.m. Sundays. 1825 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta. 678-297-6107.

Collins Hill Aquatic Center

Part of the Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation system, this pool shares some similarities with the Mountain Park facility (also listed here). There's an indoor pool for laps, swimming and diving competitions, an outdoor pool with water slides, a kiddie play area, a river ride and a separate baby pool. Family Night is Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

• THE 411: $5 ages 11 and older; $4 ages 4-10; $2 ages 3 and younger, and ages 50 and older. Open daily through Labor Day. 1-6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays-Sundays; 1-5 p.m. and 7:10 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 2200 Collins Hill Road, Lawrenceville. 770-237-5647.

Grant Park Pool

The opening was delayed this summer because of renovations, but it was worth the wait. The zero-entry small pool provides a shallow beachy feel, a new blue awning offers welcome shade, and a slew of new splash toys liven up a children's play area. Both the large pool and bathhouse have been completely renovated.

• THE 411: $2 ages 17 and older; $1 ages 6-16 and seniors; free for ages 5 and younger. Free 1:30-4 p.m. weekdays. Open daily through Labor Day. 1:30-4 p.m. and 4:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; noon-7:30 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays 625 Park Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-622-3041, www.grantparkpool.org.

McKoy Pool

The pool reopened last year after being closed for five years. Everything is shiny and new, and the pool remains a popular spot among young families. Near the shallow beach-style entry stands a fountain about 2 1/2 feet tall, a favorite feature among the kiddies. A special lap lane can be scheduled. The daily schedule wraps on Aug. 10 and continues weekends only through Labor Day.

• THE 411: $3 ages 14-59; $2 ages 2-13; free for ages 1 and younger, and ages 60 and older. Open daily through Aug. 10 and continues on weekends through Labor Day. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 534 McKoy St., Decatur. 404-378-8084.

Mountain Park Aquatic Center

This facility sports an indoor lap pool that's open all year. But the outdoor leisure pool, more like a mini water park, sees the most action during the summer. Its beach-style, zero-depth entry allows swimmers to gradually enter the water. There's a play area for kids to splash around and the Lazy River, a sectioned-off portion of the pool shaped like a figure-eight with a slow and easy current. A pair of looming water slides shoot thrill-seeking guests into the pool below. The pool operates daily through Labor Day.

• THE 411: $5 ages 11-49; $2 ages 3 and younger and 50 and older; $4 ages 4-10. Open daily through Labor Day. Noon-6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. and 7:10-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 1-6 p.m. Sundays. 1063 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain. 770-564-4650.

Sewell Park Pool

The outdoor pool isn't fancy, but it serves as a sure-fire oasis amid the summer scorch. There's a diving board and a baby pool for the newly initiated. Yeah, no water slides or bells and whistles, but Cobb County's Aquatics Unit scored an Excellence in Aquatics award last year from the National Recreation and Parks Association Aquatics Branch.

• THE 411: $2 ages 18 and older; $1.50 ages 2-17, and ages 60 and older; free for ages 1 and younger. Open through Aug. 10. 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. 2055 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-509-2741.