West Seattle’s outdoor Colman Pool will open this summer, city says

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB file photo)

West Seattle’s only city-run outdoor swimming facility, Colman Pool on the Lincoln Park shore, will open this summer. That’s according to a preliminary Seattle Parks list of “summer fun” plans. No schedule announced yet, neither days nor hours; Colman Pool did not open at all last summer. No word yet on when/whether indoor Southwest Pool will reopen, and Parks is still deciding what to do about wading pools, but it looks like Highland Park Spraypark will reopen – the announcement says Parks is “planning to operate 11 unstaffed sprayparks this summer,” with the same hours as in the past, 11 am-8 pm. More info on summer plans when it’s available!

Nicole April 13, 2021 (9:22 pm)

So happy to hear this! This was a piece of our summer we so so missed last year. I thought I’d heard they planned to keep it closed, so this is welcome news. Can’t wait to hear the details.

bloo April 13, 2021 (9:52 pm)

Hooray!!! What a wonderful thing to look forward to!

Randylee April 14, 2021 (4:59 am)

A pool full of chlorine is probably the safest place to be during a pandemic..

Mary Jo April 14, 2021 (5:15 am)

Best news I’ve heard in months!

Also John April 14, 2021 (7:17 am)

Yes…yes…yes! Thank you for this.

JamesJ April 14, 2021 (8:09 am)

This is great news, although I don’t see a lot of info on the safety precautions? I sure hope they will still require masks while people are in the pool.

Elton April 14, 2021 (10:47 am)

Uhh, cloth masks in the pool sound super dangerous, I don’t think they’ll be requiring that.The CDC has apparently not found evidence of COVID spreading in swimming pools, but they still suggest social distancing and masks when out of the pool: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/parks-rec/aquatic-venues.html#anchor_1612214349775
- JamesJ April 14, 2021 (11:57 am)
  
  I don’t know, still sounds dangerous to NOT have masks. So people can be protected while they are out of the pool, but the second they jump in and start splashing around they are panting their dirty virus air everywhere so everyone else can breath it in? Terrifying. Maybe a full face snorkel with a filter in the tube might work?
  - SA April 14, 2021 (8:12 pm)
    
    Wet masks actually are a breathing hazard. Think waterboarding.
John Pressentin April 16, 2021 (12:15 pm)

Pools have been open outside of Seattle with protocols since last Fall. They include indoor facilities in Des Moines, Burien, Tukwila, Federal Way, and Bellevue. They follow social distancing guidelines, in and out of the pool. Masks are required outside of the pool, but not in it. I have been lap swimming in one of them, and feel that it the way it is being done is safe. Lap swimming, water aerobics and youth swim teams are scheduled in the pools that are open.
- John Burge April 19, 2021 (8:20 pm)
  
  Add White Center, Mountlake Terrace and Mercer Island pools to your list. Seemingly only Seattle is not capable of opening its pools. I swim 6 days a week and have yet to hear of anyone coming down with covid at the pools I frequent.

Wade p April 14, 2021 (6:44 pm)

I have been coaching and swimming at a public pool in Kirkland. We keep our distance, wear masks out of the pool, no showers, and no masks while swimming. And NO contagion for the last 9 months. Swimming laps at a pool is very safe in my opinion. And in the opinion of USASwimming, and the Washington Health Department.

conradd57 April 15, 2021 (9:32 am)

Lap swimming I understand. Lap swimming is very different from family swim time when unvaccinated and unmasked kids are near each other and likely to be near other kids not from their household. Especially with a limited “shallow” area of the pool.

John Pressentin April 15, 2021 (2:11 pm)

I have been lap swimming since last September, and pools outside Seattle in locations like Burien, Tukwila & Des Moines. They follow protocols, with mask wearing, social distancing, etc. They do feel safe. And no, masks are NOT used in the pool.! These pools are indoors, while Colman is outdoors-all the more reason to open it up this summer

Sara April 15, 2021 (6:09 pm)

YAY! I SO missed lap swimming last summer at Colman, my summer resort! So exciting to think that it may be open this summer!

John Burge April 19, 2021 (8:29 pm)

Since December, I have swum every weekday at Mountlake Terrace (an 18-mile roundtrip) and every Sunday at White Center (a 38-mile roundtrip). I live less than a mile from Green Lake (Evans Pool) and not much further from Meadowbrook Pool, Ballard Pool or Helen Madison Pool, yet none of these are available to me — now, or in the foreseeable future. Thanks, Seattle! I have yet to hear of anyone at either of the pools I swim at coming down with covid. Both pools observe strict protocols.

Sorry, comment time is over.