Water Park opens to grateful crowds

RITZVILLE - The Ritzville Water Park opened at noon Wednesday, June 16.

Donna Kessler, in her fifth season as pool manager, said 160 people attended opening day. The crowd increased to 220 Thursday, with temperatures climbing almost 10 degrees higher than opening day.

"Today we're getting even more people," Kessler said Friday afternoon. "Every day it increased."

Kessler said the capacity is 130 people at a time, with the Water Park currently operating at 50% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The pool is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with adult swim from 5 to 6 p.m.

"Everybody's pretty excited to be able to go to the pool," Kessler said. "We usually have about 17 lifeguards, but this year we only have eight, so we have reduced the hours. It makes things a little more complicated, but we couldn't get anyone to apply."

This year's lifeguards are Michael Nichols, Grace Greenwalt, Starr Graham, Jazmine Olson, Levi Hoest, Mercedes Kovach, Shawn Steinberger and Ashleigh Swartz.

"I know pretty much all of the kids, so it's really fun," said first-time lifeguard Swartz, who will be going into her sophomore year at Lind-Ritzville High School in the fall. "We can have small kids go down the slide, as long as they are paired up with someone, like an older sibling."

Enjoying doing flips, back flips and "gainers" in the deep end Thursday were some older kids, including Jase Bowman, Joey Duff, Caleb Kuykendall, and Ethan Osborne.

"I'm so grateful the pool is open," Heather Glisson of Ritzville said. "I have 10 kids here today; five of my own, and I baby-sit, so it's a life saver."

"The best part of summer is the pool and a family pass," Jessica Kidwell said. "I have 12 and 13 year olds who take their younger siblings while I'm at work. They come home for dinner and head right back down again."

The Water Park is offering limited swim sessions on a first-to-sign-up basis, due to the limited staff.

The Water Park is located at 109 W. 10th Avenue, next to the Ritzville Municipal Golf Course.

The Lind Community Pool, located at 207 N. S Street, is scheduled to open Wednesday, June 23 at 3 p.m., with a free swim for everyone.

Staff request people bring their own chairs, and change and shower prior to coming to the pool, due to COVID-19 restrictions as well as bathroom plumbing repair work currently in progress.

The pool will be open Monday through Friday from 3-9 p.m. for open swim.

The opening of the Washtucna community pool, originally scheduled for June 12, has been delayed due to plumbing issues. Plumbing repairs aren't expected to begin before June 30, so the opening date remains to be determined.