Beat The Heat with Water Fun

Editor's note: Updated June 8, 2016

 

When it's hot, Seattle residents don't need to go far to cool off. Seattle Parks and Recreation has a long list of places to get cool in the water, including beaches, wading pools, spray features and outdoor pools.

Beaches

Starting June 25th, parks offers safe, life-guarded beaches at nine sites around the city. Beaches are open, weather permitting, from 2-7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (East Green Lake and Madrona beaches opened over Memorial Day). Amenities range from swim rafts and low and high diving boards to nearby wading pools, play areas, ball fields and more.

These beaches are open through Sept. 5:

• Matthews, 9300 51st Ave. N.E.

• Madison, 1900 43rd Ave. E.

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• Mt. Baker, 2301 Lake Washington Blvd. S.

• Seward, 5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S.

• West Green Lake, 7312 W. Green Lake Dr.

These beaches are open through Aug. 28:

• East Green Lake, 7201 E. Green Lake Dr. N.

• Magnuson, park entrance at Northeast 65th and Sand Point Way Northweast

• Madrona, 853 Lake Washington Blvd.

• Pritchard Beach, 8400 55th Ave. S.

 

Outdoor Pools

Parks operates two unique outdoor pools for summer fun. Each offers swimming lessons, family swimming, water exercise programs and special events.

Lowery C. "Pop" Mounger Pool, at 2535 32nd Ave. W, 206-684-4708, is open daily through Sept. 11. Mounger Pool is really two pools in one place. The "big pool" has a 50-foot corkscrew slide and the warmer, shallower "little pool" is great for relaxing and for teaching little ones. Call the pool to reserve it for your own birthday party or other special event.

Colman Pool, at 8603 Fauntleroy Way S.W., 206-684-7494, is open daily through Sept. 5 (the pool is closed July 7-9 and July 15-16 for swim meets). The pool offers a spectacular view of Puget Sound from its prime location on the beach in West Seattle's Lincoln Park. It features heated salt water and a giant tube slide.

 

Wading Pools and Water Spray Features

Your little ones will love the cool, shallow water and you can cool your own grown-up toes too. We will operate 15 wading pool sites this summer, and there are 10 parks with spray features to enjoy. Please note that the pools take about an hour to fill and drain each day, as required by law. Wading pool closing dates vary from mid-August to Sept. 5 (see www.seattle.gov/parks/pools.asp). Wading pools are open on days with sunny skies and warm temperatures. Call the hotline at 206-684-7796 by 9:30 a.m. each day to find out whether pools will be filled. All spray features are open through Sept. 1.

Four-day-a-week wading pools (open noon to 6:30 p.m.):

• Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. S.W., Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat

• Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way S.W., Mon/Tues/Sat/Sun

• South Park Playground, 738 S Sullivan St, Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs

Three-day-a-week wading pools (all are open from noon to 6:45 or 7 p.m.):

• Bitter Lake, 13035 Linden Ave. N., Wed/Thu/Fri

• Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave., Fri/Sat/Sun

• Dahl Playfield, 7700 25th Ave. N.E., Tues/Wed/Thur

• East Queen Anne, 160 Howe St., Mon/Tue/Sun

• E.C. Hughes, 2805 S.W. Holden St., Wed/Thu/Fri

• Soundview, 1590 N.W. 90th St., Sat/Sun/Mon

• Wallingford, 4219 Wallingford Ave. N., Wed/Thu/Fri

Weekend wading pool (open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting July 2):

• Powell Barnett Park, 352 Martin Luther King Jr Way

Daily wading pools (all are open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

• Green Lake, North 73rd and East Green Lake Drive North

• Lincoln Park, 8600 Fauntleroy Ave. S.W.

• Magnuson, eastern end of Northeast 65th St., noon to 6:30 p.m.

• Van Asselt, 2820 S. Myrtle St.

• Volunteer Park, 1400 E. Galer St.

Daily water sprayparks (all are open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.):

• Ballard Commons, 5701 22nd Ave. N.W.

• Jefferson Park, 3801 Beacon Ave S

• John C. Little, 6961 37th Ave. S.

• Lower Judkins, 2150 S. Norman St.

• Georgetown Playfield, 750 S. Homer St.

• Highland Park, 1100 S.W. Cloverdale

• Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N.

• Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E.

• Northacres Park, 12800 1st Ave. N.E.

• Pratt Park, 1800 S. Main St.

Wading pools that are closed due to budget restrictions:

• Beacon Hill Playground

• Gilman Playground

• Peppi's Playground

• Ravenna Park

• Sandel Playground

• View Ridge Playfield

For a more complete and detailed listing of fun summer activities in Seattle parks, visit www.seattle.gov/parks/SummerGuide.htm to view the 2016 Summer Guide.