The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department has earned national recognition for its aquatics and swimming programs. The National Parks and Recreation Association awarded its “Excellence in Aquatics Award,” to the department at its annual National Aquatics Conference March 2 in Atlanta. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department earned the award for cities with more than 500,000 residents. This is the third time the department has won the award.

The National Excellence in Aquatics Award honors agencies that demonstrate excellence in planning and managing diversified aquatic services. It is given to only one city in each size category and is considered as recognition of the best-run aquatics system in the country. The National Recreation and Park Association's National Aquatic Conference is the premier venue for aquatic professionals in the nation, drawing hundreds of attendees annually from all areas of aquatics.

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department operates 29 pools throughout the city. In 2006, attendance at Phoenix pools topped 767,000. Aquatics staff gave more than 340,000 instructional classes and programs last summer.