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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

12 wading pools to be taken out


The wading pool at Shadle Park along with 11 others in the city will be removed. 
 (Holly Pickett / The Spokesman-Review)

The Spokane Park Board voted unanimously Thursday to remove a dozen city park wading pools this year and post signs explaining why they are being closed.

The decision comes after the parks department last fall decided not to fund wading pools in 2005 because of their high maintenance cost and new state regulations requiring lifesaving equipment at each one.

Leaving the unused concrete pools in parks could be a hazard and a liability to the city, said Elizabeth Schoedel, park board member. “By sitting out there, they are an attractive nuisance,” she said.

Parks officials want to replace the wading pools with new spray play areas, but they need voter help.

A single new spray area will be built at Shadle Park over the next several weeks to give residents an idea of what would replace wading pools under a $15 million bond issue for an aquatics center and new pools. The Shadle spray facility is expected to be opened by the end of July.

In the meantime, the parks department is posting signs at all of the 12 wading pools that are shallow enough for toddlers.

The signs will read: “The Spokane Park Board regrets to inform the public that all free-standing wading pools have been permanently closed beginning summer 2005. Regulatory and financial restrictions forced the decision.”

The signs will also invite residents to visit the “prototype spray pad” being built at Shadle Park and to submit comments to the parks department at 625-6200 or at www.spokaneparks.org.

The 12 wading pools are located at A.M. Cannon, Audubon, Coeur d’Alene, Comstock, Friendship, Glass, Lincoln, Manito, Rochester Heights, Shadle, Thornton-Murphy and Underhill parks.

Only the wading pool attached to the Liberty Park swimming pool will be open this summer.

Park budget cuts last fall forced the closure of the wading pools along with Shadle Park’s outdoor swimming pool.

State health officials last year proposed requiring lifeguards for wading pools, which was a factor in the decision last fall to close Spokane’s wading pools. The state eventually decided not to require lifeguards, but added a new regulation that rescue equipment be made available to the public at all wading pools. City officials said they would not be able to ensure the equipment would not be stolen since the pools were not staffed.

City parks officials also had proposed ending Spokane’s long tradition of free swimming for children to boost park revenues, but backed away from the proposal last winter after testimony against the plan. The Park Board agreed in February to maintain free admission for kids this year.

A citizens committee has been formed to make recommendations by October on a voter bond issue that would seek approval for an aquatics center and three other new pools possibly in 2006.