New Brighton Park Swimming Pool

New Brighton Park in Vancouver has contrasting views of nature and industrial buildings, along with one of the best heated outdoor pools in the Lower Mainland.

NOTE: In May 2024, the park might be the host venue for Foundation 9.0 which is part of a new series of EDM music festivals and “house music gatherings”. As of early 2024, however, exact details about the event are to be confirmed.

New Brighton Park and Pool

Vancouver’s New Brighton Park offers views that include a unique blend of nature and industries due to its location. Although New Brighton Park sits on a relatively small property, it still has lots of space and amenities to enjoy.

This park boasts a large outdoor swimming pool, picnic area, soccer field, kids’ playground, swings, food concession and more. There is a gravel trail along the waterfront, as well as a small dock and sandy beach area.

New Brighton Park also has a great dog park where dogs are free to be off-leash. This makes up for the fact that dogs can’t go on the beach, and that they must be leashed in most other areas within the park. Because it’s so large, enclosed and grassy, the dog park is, in our opinion, one of the nicest in the Lower Mainland.

Dog Park at New Brighton Park — New Brighton Dog Park Area

Park Location, Parking and Hours

This waterfront park is in East Vancouver on New Brighton Road and Commissioner Street. It is close to the Iron Workers’ Memorial Bridge, Hastings Park and the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) fairgrounds.

Access to New Brighton Park from McGill Street is via either Commissioner Street or Wall Street. Commissioner Street is the first road on your right after coming off the Iron Workers’ Memorial Bridge from the North Shore (or last road on your left before the bridge driving away from Vancouver). Heading west, Wall Street is immediately after Commissioner.

If you turn onto Wall Street you’ll find a couple of parking lots with spaces for around 50 or so cars. If you instead turn onto Commissioner Street (which also leads to the port facilities) you’ll pass a parking lot on New Brighton Road with over 40 more parking spots, and then a little further down, along the edge of the park itself, you’ll find on-street parking for about 30 or so more vehicles. All parking in the area is free (or at least it was the last time we checked).

It’s important to note this park is closed daily from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am (although these hours may change). Unlike many other parks, the nearby trains and port facilities can make for a somewhat noisy visit too.

The Outdoor Pool

The New Brighton Pool is one of the larger and nicer swimming pools in the Lower Mainland. The views of Burrard Inlet from the park are beautiful. From the pool though you can primarily just see the industrial port facilities close by and North Shore Mountains in the distance.

The pool is heated and features a sloped entry which is great for little kids. Depths at other ends are 2.5, 5 and 9 feet. There is one very small slide for children, and lifeguards are present. In addition to a large area for children and families to play in the water, there are also lanes for swimming. This pool can certainly be enjoyed by all ages.

Because of its somewhat industrial setting, the pool isn’t as spectacular as the outdoor ones found in Kitsilano or Second Beach in Stanley Park. The pool itself though is a nice one, and the park is a nice one.

Pool Prices

In 2023, swimming at the pool costs $6.99 for adults and $3.50 for children (plus taxes). To swim at New Brighton costs the same as at Kitsilano and Second Beach.