Pools splash into summer

Spokane Valley pools have been filling as park staff get them ready for opening day Friday. The Spokane County Parks Department staff has kept busy the past few weeks painting, sweeping and cleaning the pools.

“We started filling the pools two days ago,” said Dave Hedt of the county parks department. The department is under contract to maintain the pools for the city.

On Friday, Hedt watched as three lifeguards installed the diving board at the Terrace View Park pool. “We can’t put the diving board in until there’s water in the pool,” he said.

The Terrace View and Park Road pools got a new coat of paint this year. The Terrace View and Valley Mission pools are also scheduled to have lifts installed, said Carol Carter of the Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Department. The Park Road pool already has one.

“They’re portable, state of the art,” she said. “The person sits in the chair and then gets lowered in the pool. We wanted to make all our pools handicap accessible. It’s easier for the elderly.”

Some swimming spots are already open for those who don’t care how warm the weather is. Liberty Lake County Park is open, but there won’t be any lifeguards on duty until June 18. Pools in the city of Spokane open at 1 p.m. today. Splash Down has been open for weeks despite the chilly temperatures.

“It doesn’t really matter,” said owner Melissa Kellogg. “The kids come anyway.

“They seem happy as clams. I don’t think they have body thermometers that work.”

This is the first season that Kellogg and her husband, Geoff, have owned the water park. He was the manager there for two years before purchasing it.

“He knew what we were in for,” she said. “We absolutely love it. I can’t imagine doing anything better.

“It should be a fun summer.”