Green Lake wading pool opens June 20

It’s the date many parents of young’uns look forward to each summer – the day when the Green Lake wading pool opens. That date this year is June 20. That’s also the day that wading pools at Volunteer Park, Lincoln Park, and Van Asselt Playground open. These four sites will operate from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, weather permitting.
Looks like Green Lake is lucky, because 11 of Seattle’s 25 pools won’t open this summer because of the need to complete federally mandated safety improvements required by the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.

The Act, enacted by Congress and signed into law in December 2008, requires that all owners of pools and spas install specified new drain covers and second anti-entrapment systems to protect swimmers from possible injury or death caused by getting caught in pool drains.
Because of the nationwide demand for the drain covers and anti-entrapment systems and the skilled labor required to install them, there are delays in the work all over the country.
Parks is working to install this safety equipment in 10 swimming pools, and will begin work on the wading pools as soon as Parks receives permits from Public Health – Seattle & King County.

East Queen Anne Playground and South Park Playground will open June 22. Eight more wading pools will open over the course of the summer, as their drain work is completed: Cal Anderson Park, June 29; Wallingford Playground, July 1; Dahl Playground, July 6; Delridge Playfield, July 8; Hiawatha Playfield, July 20; E.C. Hughes Playground, July 27; Bitter Lake Playfield, July 29; View Ridge Playfield, August 3. 
The five water spray features at Ballard Commons Park and Miller Playfield are open now; those at John C. Little, Sr. Park, Pratt Park, and Judkins Park will open on Saturday, May 23. The last day of operation for all wading pools and spray features will be Monday, September 7 (Labor Day).
The wading pools that won’t open this summer are: Soundview; Highland Park; Georgetown; Beacon Hill; Powell Barnett; Peppi’s Playground; Ravenna; Northacres; Gilman; Sandel; Magnuson.