looking for lake in houston

There are not that many that are open to the public and good to swim in.

288 is a training only lake and pretty nice.  It is on the far south side of town though.  It has also been low and hot the last few weeks.  288 costs $7 a swim (5 if you buy the 20 swims in a season card they offered this year) and you need to fill out a waiver.

Twin Lakes is even farther south than Lake 288 but it is open to casual swimmers and has some docks with exposed nails where the steps use to be.  It is $5 to swim and they didn't make me fill out a waiver.  They did have fish that bit me if I sat near the edge very long though.

Towne Lake where the Houston Tri is going to be has some people who swim in it... as far as I know it is a don't ask, don't tell policy.

There are a ton of Lakes, but not a ton that allow casual swimming.