a day ago
Tri-Cities pools open this weekend for summer. What to know before you go
Starting this weekend, all public pools in the Tri-Cities will be open for the hot summer season.
Here's a list of the public pools in Tri-Cities, when they open and their standard hours of operation. These options do not require memberships of any kind, though some have small entry fees.
There are several public pools across Tri-Cities:
George Prout Pool - 1005 Swift Blvd.
Howard Amon Park Wading Pool - 500 Amon Park Drive
Kenneth E. Serier Memorial Pool - 315 W. 6th Ave.
Mushroom Pool - 315 W. 6th Ave.
Memorial Aquatic Park - 1520 W. Shoshone Street
There are also numerous splash pads opening for kids and active aquatic recreation:
Badger Mountain Splash and Play - 50 Keene Road
Columbia Park Splash Pad - 1903 Columbia Park Trail
Grange Park Splash Pad - 600 S. Union Street
Southridge Sports and Events Complex - 2901 Southridge Blvd.
Civic Park Splash Pad - 315 W. 6th Ave.
Kurtzman Splash Pad - 285 S. Wehe Ave.
Pasco Sporting Complex Splash Pad - 6520 Homerun Road
Especially as the heat rises, it's important to keep safety in mind while visiting public pools. Always be aware of the day's forecast and plan accordingly. Bring a water bottle, lots of sunscreen and some form of shade, like a hat or umbrella.
Different pools may have different permitted items. Always check the pool's website or call ahead to save yourself time later on.
The Washington State Department of Health says kids should never be left unsupervised around water. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death among kids age 1 to 14, and usually were only left alone for less than five minutes, according to the department.
At least one person in your group should know CPR and basic life-saving protocols in case of an emergency. Keep a phone within close distance of water recreation in case someone needs to call 911.
The DOH also recommends avoiding injuries and accidents by following posted rules or enforcing your own, like a policy against running and roughhousing near the pool. Additionally, water should be at least 9 feet deep before diving is allowed.
Mixing alcohol with water recreation is also not recommended, as sun exposure heightens alcohol's impacts. Alcohol is involved in about 25-50% of water recreation deaths in the state, according to the DOH.
