County to open brand new pool until August 31

This ain’t your grandpa’s pool.

Forget boring rectangles. Spokane County’s new U-shaped Bidwell Pool will include a water slide, water jets, buckets of tumbling water and a shallow end that starts at zero-grade and gradually gets deeper, like a beach.

Traditionalists needn’t worry, however. The pool will also offer lap lanes.

The new pool at 18120 N. Hatch Road, just off of Highway 395, will open Aug. 19 and remain open this year through Aug. 31. Spokane County Parks and Recreation officials were uncertain they’d be ready to open the pool at all this summer. Commissioner Phil Harris said he won’t inaugurate the new pool with a cannonball off the diving board, but he did don a lifeguard hat Tuesday to celebrate its upcoming opening.

The 153,000-gallon pool cost $2.4 million and is the first new Spokane County pool in about 40 years, said Parks Director Doug Chase.

Pool hours will be 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Admission is $4, or $2 for children 5 and younger.

Free tours will be offered on Aug. 20 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.