From Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation

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 and water spray features, and outdoor pools.

Beaches

Parks offers safe, lifeguarded beaches at nine sites around the city, and we strongly recommend swimming only where lifeguards are present. Beaches are open daily, weather permitting, from noon to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Amenities range from swim rafts and low and high diving boards to nearby wading pools, play areas, ballfields, and more.

These beaches are open through September 2:

• Matthews, 9300 51st Ave. NE
• Madison, 1900 43rd Ave. E
• 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 August 25:

• East Green Lake, 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N
• Magnuson, park entrance at NE 65th and Sand Point Way NE
• 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. And you can rent the whole pool for your own special event!

Lowery C. “Pop” Mounger Pool, at 2535 32nd Ave. W, 206-684-4708, is open daily through September 8. 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 SW, 206-684-7494, opens at noon each day through

September 2, and is also open the weekend of September 7 and 8. The pool enjoys 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 the Giant Tube Slide!

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT COLMAN: Colman Pool is closed to the public through Saturday, June 29, for a scheduled swim meet. It will re-open to the public on Sunday, June 30.

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.

Four-day-a-week Wading Pools (both are open noon to 6:45 p.m.):

• Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. SW, Mon/ Tue/Wed/Sat
• Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, Thur/Fri/Sat/Sun

Three-day-a-week Wading Pools (all are open from noon to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

• Bitter Lake, 13035 Linden Ave. N, Wed/Thu/Fri
• Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave., noon to 6:45 p.m., Fri/Sat/Sun
• Dahl Playfield, 7700 25th Ave. NE, Tues/Wed/Thur
• East Queen Anne, 160 Howe St., Sun/Mon/Tue
• E.C. Hughes, 2805 SW Holden St., Wed/Thu/Fri
• Soundview, 1590 NW 90th St., Sat/Sun/Mon
• South Park, 8319 8th Ave. S, Sun/Mon/Tue
• Wallingford, 4219Wallingford Ave. N, Wed/Thu/Fri

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

• Green Lake, N 73rd and E Green Lake Dr. N
• Lincoln Park, 8600 Fauntleroy Ave. SW
• Magnuson, eastern end of NE 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. NW
• Beacon Mountain at Jefferson Park, 3901 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 SW Cloverdale
• Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N
• Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E
• Northacres Park, 12800 1st Ave. NE
• Pratt Park, 1800 S Main St.

For a more complete listing of fun summer activities in Seattle parks, please visit www.seattle.gov/parks and click on “2013 Summer Guide” on the home page.

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