Puget Sound families have plenty of beaches to enjoy on a hot summer day, but unless you’re lucky enough to belong to a private club, there are few public outdoor swimming pools.
With just 10 public pools (only two are outdoors), Seattle has roughly half as many pools per resident as similar-sized cities. Surrounding areas don’t fare much better. The Eastside has only three outdoor pools, including the popular and always packed-to-the-gills Henry Moses Aquatic Center in Renton.
The City of Seattle hasn’t built a new pool – either indoors or outdoors – for more than a generation. Major efforts by community groups such as Project Seattle Pools and the Eastside’s Splash (Swimming Pools for Leisure, Active Sports and Health) have been underway in recent years to expand and modernize public access to pools.
The City of Bellevue completed an Aquatics Feasibility Study in March and is seeking potential funding partners, including other Eastside cities. Tight city budgets last fall forced the Seattle City Council to delay action on a Comprehensive Aquatics Plan. (See www.seattleschild.com/article/20081022/SCM05/635750868).
Budget shortfalls also threatened the closure of several Puget Sound area pools this year. Edmonds residents rallied to save Yost Park Pool from closing. In less than a month, activists raised more than $53,000, enough to keep the pool open for the summer and prove the popularity of outdoor pools. (See www.heraldnet.com/article/20090423/NEWS01/704239862)
For pool fun this summer, we may have to travel a little farther than families in other major metro areas, but we still have some nice pools for our little ones to enjoy.
Please call to confirm pool hours before heading out. Closures may occur for special events.
This long-standing favorite Seattle pool enjoys spectacular views of Puget Sound from its home on the beach in Lincoln Park. The heated saltwater pool has a giant tube slide. Open daily through Aug. 30 and Labor Day weekend. Family swims: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Public swims: daily, 1:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Admission: Adults (18 to 64) $4, seniors $2.75, youth (1 to 17) $2.75, infants free. Slide fee $1.
Mounger has two pools. The “big pool” features a 50-foot corkscrew slide. The “little pool” is warmer and shallower and is the site of a daily “Pool Playland” (11 a.m. to noon) with water toys for children five and younger (adults $4, youth $2.75). Open through Sept. 7. Public swims: daily, 1 p.m. to 2:25 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. Evening public swim: Tuesday and Thursday, 6:35 p.m. to 8 p.m. Family swims: Monday and Wednesday, 6:35 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Friday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission: Adults (18 to 64) $4, seniors $2.75, youth (1 to 17) $2.75, infants free. Slide fee $1.
Heads-up: Arrive early for “Pool Playland.” Tickets go on sale at 10:30 a.m. and sell out quickly on warm days.
King County operates this 25-yard pool with a diving board and large circular slide. It’s open through Labor Day. Public swims: Monday through Friday, 1 to 3 p.m. Family Swim: Monday through Friday, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Public swim is also offered Monday through Thursday, 7 to 8 p.m. (changes to 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 due to shorter daylight hours). Admission: $3.25 all ages.
The City of Kirkland operates this heated pool with a diving board and wading pool for little ones. Open swim hours are offered daily (check Web site for exact hours) through Aug. 31. Admission: all ages, $3. Family Fun Nights ($3) with games, fun, music themes run 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday through Aug. 16.
Cottage Lake Pool, 18831 N.E. Woodinville-Duvall Road; 206-296-7643; kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/pools/cottagelake.aspx.
King County operates this pool with a circular water slide. There are three public swim times: Monday through Friday, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., and 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. (changes to 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 17 due to shorter daylight hours). Public swims: Saturday and Sunday, 1:15 to 2:15 p.m., 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., and 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Admission: all ages, $3.25 per hour.
The City of Renton runs the kind of public pool all kids wish they had in their neighborhoods – a pool with water slides, zero-depth entry, a wave machine, water spray play area, lazy river, toddler area and more. Swim sessions are offered daily through Labor Day. Session One: daily, noon to 3:30 p.m. Session Two: daily, 4 to 7:30 p.m. Twilight session: Monday and Wednesday, 8 to 10 p.m. Session One and Two admission: Adults $14, seniors $8, youth (13 to 17) $9, youth (5 to 12) $8, youth (1 to 4) $4, kids under 1 year free. Twilight admission: Adults $8.50, seniors $4.75, youth (13 to 17) $6, youth (5 to 12) $4.75, youth (1 to 4) $2.50, kids under 1 year free. Renton residents receive a discount.
Heads-up: Pre-sale admissions go on sale 30 minutes before sessions begin. Lines can form quickly on warm days, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Snohomish County Outdoor Pools
McCollum Park Pool, 600 128th St. S.E., Everett; 425-357-6036; www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/Park_Information/Park_Directory/Combination_Parks/mccollum_pool.htm.
Snohomish County operates this outdoor pool with a water slide. Open swims are offered daily through Sept. 1. Visit Web site for complete schedule as it changes throughout the season. Admission: Everyone ages 3 and up $3.50, kids two and under free. Chilly day special (when temperature is below 65 degrees), $2.
This is the pool Edmonds residents saved from the cutting block this summer. Public swims are offered daily and change throughout the season. Visit Web site for full schedule. Admission: Adults (18 to 54) $5, seniors $4, youth (4 to 17) $4, family rate $15. Discounts for Edmonds residents.
This pool becomes an open-air pool during the summer season when the cloth roof comes off. The 25-yard pool has a diving board, water slide and rope swing. There’s also a wading pool with tiled sea creatures on the floor. The pool has daily afternoon swim sessions including special sessions for preschoolers and families. Please visit the Web site for hours. Admission: Adults $3, seniors $2.25, youth (3 and up) $2.25, kids under age 3 free, family swim $8.50.
Heads-up: The Lynnwood Recreation Center, including the pool, is scheduled to close in December for a $25-million renovation. It will reopen in early 2011 as the biggest aquatics facility in the area with new pools, a lazy river, water slides and a retractable roof and walls. Read more at (www.enterprisenewspapers.com/article/20090624/ETP03/706249853/-1/ETPZONELT&template=ETPZoneLTart” “City's New Rec Center to Boast 'Wow' Factor,” The Enterprise, 6/24/09)
This pool rivals Renton’s Henry Moses pool with a 160-foot water slide, lazy river, zero-depth entry, bubble pool, tumble buckets and more. It’s open daily through Labor Day with full sessions running noon to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $7, youth (5 to 17) $6. Daily half session, 2:30 to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $5, youth (5 to 17) $4. Evening session (weather permitting) daily, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission: Adults $5, youth (5 to 17) $4.
It’s open daily through August 30, with full sessions running from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $5, youth (5 to 17) $4. Daily half sessions, 2:30 to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $4, youth (5 to 17) $3.
