After a long and cold “Juneuary,” the temperatures are picking up and so are visits to Renton’s public swimming holes.
“We’re hoping the sunshine will keep coming out,” said mother Jessica Jimenez, watching her 6-year-old swim at the Henry Moses Aquatic Center.
Giant twin water slides make the backdrop for this public pool, which is better described as a small water park.
It can also come with the fee of a small water park. Luckily for Renton, there’s a variety of swim options from upscale to adventurous.
The City of Renton pool and swimming beaches will be open through Labor Day. Renton’s two public beaches have lifeguards daily from noon to 8 p.m.
The Renton School District has two indoor swimming pools that play host to swim lessons and open swim all summer long.
Schedules for district and city swimming pools are posted online.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park
Maintained by the City of Renton, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park attracts picnickers and barbecues from Bellevue to Seattle.
The sand beach and boardwalk frame the swimming area and make it a great place to take a dip in Lake Washington or build a sandcastle.
Nearby play structures and an island, connected by a bridge, make the whole park ideal for children seeking adventure and fun.
While swimming is permitted anytime during park hours, the city recommends swimming in designated areas when a lifeguard is on duty, noon to 8 p.m. daily, through Labor Day weekend.
Be wary on sunny weekends, you might have problems finding a place to spread a blanket.
Parking can also be troublesome. Try finding a spot on Houser Way North or at The Landing and walking into the park.
Park hours are 7 a.m. to dusk. It’s located at 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton. For more information visit the park Web site.
Kennydale Beach Park
A community hangout, Kennydale Beach Park serves the surrounding neighborhoods with water access and a children’s play area.
“It’s a family beach,” said recreation manager Kris Stimpson.
It tends to be less busy than the nearby Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.
A pier and a log boom define the swimming area, which also has a triathlete lane for those training for competitions, Stimpson said.
It has bathrooms and picnic tables, and lifeguards will be on duty from noon until 8 p.m.
The park, located at 3601 Lake Washington Blvd. N., is open dawn to dusk. Parking is across the street.
Cedar River
There is nothing more tempting on a hot summer day than to float down the Cedar River in an inner tube, but it can also be pretty dangerous.
The City of Renton does not recommend anyone swim in the river, but it’s a public waterway and certainly isn’t illegal.
The advantage of rivers is they tend to be cleaner than lakes, but they’re also much colder.
The small beach behind the Renton Community Center is a great kick-off place to begin your drift or to take a dunk on a hot afternoon.
Don’t let the sandy beach fool you, it quickly becomes rocky. However, it’s great for cooling off your feet.
This swimming hole has generally been kept hidden from passersby, making it a nice reprieve from busy parks on hot summer days.
The signs with swimmers crossed out are only cautionary but take heed. On hot early summer days the currents can be strong and the water cold.
“It’s not a safe place to swim,” Stimpson said.
Swimmers can get tangled in underwater debris or hit by logs traveling downstream.
For easy access, park behind the community center, 1715 S.E. Maple Valley Highway, and walk toward the river.
Henry Moses Aquatic Center
Complete with a wave pool, lazy river, twin water slides and water jungle gym, the Henry Moses Aquatic Center is best compared to a small water park.
It’s all a family needs to entertain kids for a summer, said mother Robyn Montague, who bought season passes for $159 for a Renton family.
Parents sunbath worry-free on two rows of lounge chairs, while they watch little ones run in and out of the shallow end of a wave pool.
“I feel safer with my kids here,” said Montague. “This is pretty much where we spend our summer.”
Next to the 9,000-square-foot leisure pool, a six-lane lap pool hosts exercise and swim lessons.
Leisure swim sessions begin at noon, with lap swim and lessons mostly in the morning. Check online for the complete swim schedule, pnw.cc/henrymosespool.
Don’t be late on a sunny day; the pool has limited admissions.
The center is located just off the Maple Valley Highway near I-405, at 1719 S.E. Maple Valley Highway, Renton.
Residents pay a significantly reduced price. General admission fees range from $2-$9 for children and youth and $6-$14 for adults. Lap swim is $3-$4.50.
Hazen and Lindbergh high school pools
Kept at a warm 85 degrees, the Hazen and Lindbergh high school indoor swimming pools are tempting on a rainy day.
Swim and diving classes take up most of the schedule with regular lap and open swim times throughout the day.
While high schoolers take priority during the swim season, the rest of the year these pools are a community place, scheduled for use from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week.
The Lindbergh pool has a slide, and both pools have diving boards.
Admission fees were raised at both pools in order to keep the Lindbergh pool open. Open swim is now $3.50 for youth and $4 for adults. Lap swim is $4.
Hazen is at 1101 Hoquiam Ave. N.E., Renton, and Lindbergh is at 16740 128th Ave. S.E., Renton.
Visit the Renton School District Web site, RentonSchools.us for schedules and information or pnw.cc/lindberghpool and pnw.cc/hazenpool.
