Amenities · Indoor, outdoor and dry-land

Tom Muehlenbeck Center Pools and Amenities Guide

By the Muehlenbeck Center Guide Editorial Team · Last updated: November 2026 · Figures checked Nov. 3, 2026

Water is the reason most people choose the Tom Muehlenbeck Center over Plano's other recreation centers. It has two indoor pools under one roof and a summer outdoor pool, plus the usual gym, track and fitness rooms. Here is what each space is for, who can use it, and the rules that trip up first-time visitors.

Indoor lap (competition) pool

Plano ISD describes TMC's indoor pool as a 25-yard pool with 8 lanes and a 1-meter diving board, and it is the home pool for Plano West Senior High's swimming and diving teams. When the center opened, trade coverage from Aquatics International and the builder described it as an 8-lane, 25-yard pool with two 1-meter boards and a drop slide that lands in the lap pool from the leisure slide platform. The city's current schedule lists one "diving board" time block, so the number of boards in use today is something to confirm at the desk rather than assume.

Who it suits: lap swimmers, water walkers who prefer lanes, and kids who want the drop slide or diving board during their weekend time blocks.
Lanes: anywhere from two to all eight are open to the public depending on the hour; our hours and pool schedule has the full lane chart.
Gear: goggles are allowed and sold at the front desk. Masks, snorkels and fins are allowed in the lap pool, but the city's rules ban monofins, mermaid tails and masks that cover both mouth and nose.

Indoor leisure pool

This is the pool designed for play rather than laps. The original design notes list a water slide, a two-lane lap area, a current channel (the "river" the schedule mentions), a vortex area, a play feature and underwater seating. The 2025 renovation added a new children's pool play structure and redid the pool deck, according to the city's reopening coverage.

The leisure pool runs on a split schedule. Early mornings are adults-only, which makes it popular for water walking and low-impact exercise in the current channel. Families get it on Friday evenings, weekend afternoons and a couple of weekday windows. The river is switched off for an hour during some adult sessions.

Slide height rule: riders must be at least 48 inches tall for both the indoor and outdoor slides. Measure before you promise a child the slide.

Outdoor pool (summer only)

The outdoor leisure pool sits beside the building with the creek and park behind it. As built, it was described as a large open play area with three water slides, a waterfall, a shallow children's area, a spray pad and underwater benches; the city reported replacing all stair treads on the outdoor slide tower during the renovation, and the project scope also included new pool shade structures. It opens only for the summer season and is listed as closed for the season on the fall 2026 schedule.

The city's summer programs make heavy use of it. Camp Connections campers, for example, swim outdoors two or three times a week and must pass a swim test before using the deep end. That is a useful hint that the outdoor pool has deeper water as well as the shallow kids' zone.

Dry-land amenities

What else is inside, and the rules that apply
Space	What it is	Key rules
Indoor track	Elevated running and walking track above the gym	Shirts and closed-toe athletic shoes; walkers inside lane, runners outside; strollers allowed; kids under 8 within arm's reach of an adult
Cardio & weight room	Cardio machines plus strength equipment; new cardio equipment arrived with the renovation	Ages 13+; ages 13–15 actively supervised by an adult 18+; 30-minute cardio limit at peak times; no outside trainers
Gymnasium	Basketball court that also hosts open-play pickleball and table tennis	Court shoes; no dunking or hanging on rims; pickleball minimum age 14 unless with a parent
Game room	Casual games for members and day-pass guests	Membership card or paid admission
Rooms A, B, C	Meeting and party rooms of about 1,000–1,100 sq ft each	Up to 50 people each, or 150 combined; food allowed

The gym's open-play times shift through the week, so the city keeps a separate online gym calendar for TMC. Check it before you bring a pickleball group.

Pool rules families ask about most

Supervision: children under 10 need a parent or guardian 16 or older with them; under-7s need that adult within arm's reach at all times, and one adult may supervise up to three children under 7.
Flotation: only U.S. Coast Guard approved devices. Water wings and inflatable rafts are out. Complimentary life jackets are available first come, first served.
Swimwear: swim-specific fabrics only. No cut-off shorts, jeans or revealing styles. Swim diapers are required for little ones and sold at the desk.
Food: coolers with food and drinks are allowed but staff check them at entry. No glass and no alcohol anywhere on the property. Snacks and drinks are sold on site.
Toys: dive toys and soft foam balls are fine in the leisure pools during open swim. Noodles and rafts are not.
No shade tents: pop-up tents and free-standing umbrellas are prohibited at city pools.

Pool parties and rentals

TMC pool rental options (resident / non-resident)
Package	Guests	Price	When
Indoor party room (non-private pool)	Up to 40	$220 / $340	Fri evening; weekend afternoons (school year adds a Sat late-morning slot)
Indoor leisure pool, after hours	Up to 250	$645 / $710	Sat 6:30–8:30 pm
Both indoor pools, after hours	Up to 250	$750 / $825	Sat 6:30–8:30 pm
Both indoor pools, after hours	Up to 500	$925 / $1,018	Sat 6:30–8:30 pm
Outdoor party area (summer)	Up to 30	$165 / $255	Daytime two-hour slots
All pools, private (summer)	Up to 250	$1,450 / $1,595	Sat 6:30–8:30 pm

Bookings are paid in full up front, open up to two months ahead, and private rentals need two weeks' notice. Cancel at least two weeks out and you get a refund minus a 10 percent admin fee; later cancellations are not refunded. Every guest counts toward capacity, and the same adult-to-child supervision ratios apply during parties.

Where to go next

Ready to visit? Check the Tom Muehlenbeck Center pool schedule, price out a visit with the day pass and membership guide, or head back to the Tom Muehlenbeck Center Plano overview for address, parking and FAQs.