Hit The Beach! -- Lifeguards Make Swimming Into Summer That Much Safer

At Renton's Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park one recent warm afternoon, Roman Cruz and a couple of buddies stood on the broad, sandy beach, eyeing the long concrete float called the "waterwalk" in the deep end of the swimming area.

The float is a great place for strong swimmers to sun, far from sandcastle-building kids and parents on the beach. Only those who are lifeguard-approved can swim out that far.

The three boys debated who would go first, then tossed their towels to the beach, stripped off their T-shirts and raced in.

"It's summer!" Cruz shouted as he dived under the water. "It's time to go swimming!"

Summer it is, at many local beaches and outdoor pools, where lifeguards are on duty daily through Labor Day.

It's always safest to swim where there are lifeguards, though not every beach has them. Some that used to be guarded, such as popular Lake Sammamish State Park, aren't these days because of budget cuts. None of the area's saltwater beaches has guards.

The good news: More than 30 local beaches do have lifeguards, and there also are a handful of public outdoor pools to swim in.

So how do you choose where to go? That depends on what kind of summer experience you're seeking and what area you'd prefer.

On the Eastside, a beach such as that at Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island is great for families with young children because there is shallow warm water for swimming and a small but sandy beach to play on. It rarely gets crowded, but that's because there's a two-block walk from car to beach on a winding, paved path.

Closer, more convenient parking means crowds of people of all ages, from tykes to seniors, and on the bigger beaches, lots of teenagers, says Cathy Wiederhold, aquatics manager for Bellevue Parks.

She recommends Newcastle Beach in South Bellevue for young families, which requires a short walk but draws a relaxed crowd to swim in the warm, shallow water and play on the sandy beach.

A few miles south, Renton's Coulon Beach is a favorite with all ages for its broad sandy beach area, boat launch and play areas. It draws a lot of teens.

Teens and young adults also prefer Bellevue's Enatai Beach, tucked under the east end of the East Channel Bridge. It's on bus routes, next to the Mercer Slough Bike Path, and has canoe and kayak rentals.

Kirkland's Houghton Beach Park on Lake Washington, south of town, and Juanita Beach Park, north of town, are also popular. Both have boat launches, large beaches, swim floats and volleyball and picnic areas. Farther east, Lake Sammamish's Idylwood Park is the only lifeguarded beach on that lake and the only public swimming area in that area, so it attracts large crowds of all ages on sunny afternoons.

For those who prefer quiet sunning and swimming, Chesterfield Beach in Bellevue is one of the most secluded lifeguarded beaches. It's in the Beaux Arts neighborhood; visitors must navigate a steep flight of about 100 steps through a ravine between the parking lot and beach.

In Seattle, the Lake Washington parks of Seward, Pritchard, Madison, Madrona and Matthews all have close parking and easy access to the beaches. Pritchard Beach, a lovely crescent-shaped park, is rarely crowded. Its shallow water and new boathouse make it perfect for families. A few miles north, Madrona's beach was recently redone to resemble small sand dunes. Though the swimming area is small, it's popular with neighborhood families.

The two swimming beaches at Green Lake are wide open, with large swimming areas. Parking is close by, but these beaches are heavily used and are often crowded.

Magnuson Park, in North Seattle, also draws lots of people, but it's far bigger and rarely feels crowded. There's a wide beach, good parking and ample space to roam, fly kites and picnic.

Farther north there are few lifeguarded beaches. Many people head for Everett's Silver Lake, where there is a broad beach, docks and a lot of activity.

Cottage Lake, in Woodinville, has no swimming beaches but does have a public outdoor pool, as do Kirkland, Vashon and Renton. The pools charge by the hour or session, and offer lessons and exercise activities.

If you like saltwater, consider Colman Pool, overlooking Puget Sound at the tip of West Seattle's Lincoln Park. Colman, the only public heated saltwater pool in the area, is particularly popular with teenagers. It's not easy to get to, but it's a lovely half-mile walk or bike ride on the paved beach path from the park's south parking lot.

To the south, the beach on Angle Lake Park, south of the airport in SeaTac, offers a small but sandy play area and a large picnic area under tall, shady trees. Steel Lake Park, in Federal Way, has parking very close to the beach, a short dock and a launch for nonmotorized boats amid grassy lawns and a play area. The wide-open beach of Lake Meridian Park in Kent is popular and often crowded. Those who prefer a quieter time might choose the beach at Lake Wilderness Park in Maple Valley, an old resort-turned-park that has a fishing pier, play areas, barbecues and other amenities.

Wading pools

If you have very small children, you may prefer taking them to a wading pool on a hot summer day.

Wading pools are not lifeguarded, so parents have to keep a close eye on their children.

Seattle has 29 of them open this summer. Wading pools at Green Lake, Lincoln Park, Volunteer Park and Magnuson Park are open daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., weather permitting, through Labor Day. Hours and dates vary for playground wading pools in 14 neighborhoods and five community centers. Most are open weekdays, weather permitting. Call the Wading Pool Hotline for daily information: 206-684-7796.

------------------------------------------ These area swimming beaches have lifeguards on duty through Labor Day: ------------------------------------------

King County parks Lifeguards noon to 7 p.m. daily at:

Juanita Beach, 9703 Juanita Drive N.E., Kirkland.

Luther Burbank, 2040 84th Ave. S.E., Mercer Island.

Pine Lake, 2616 226th Ave. S.E., Issaquah.

Five Mile Lake, 36429 44th Ave. S., Federal Way.

Lake Wilderness, 23601 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley.

Outdoor pools ($1.40 per person per hour):

Cottage Lake, 18831 N.E. Woodinville-Duvall Road, Woodinville. Public swims 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. weekdays; 1 to 7 p.m. weekends.

Vashon, 9600 S.W. 204th St., Vashon Island. Public swims 1 to 5:30 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. weekdays; 1 to 4:30 p.m. weekends.

Seattle parks Lifeguards 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (to 7 p.m. after Aug. 24) daily at:

Matthews Beach, 9300 51st Ave. N.E.

Magnuson Beach, Sand Point Way and Northeast 65th Street.

East Green Lake Beach, 7201 E. Green Lake Way N.

West Green Lake Beach, 7312 W. Green Lake Way N.

Madison Beach, 1900 43rd Ave. E.

Madrona Beach, 800 Lake Washington Blvd. E.

Mount Baker Beach, 2301 Lake Washington Blvd. S.

Seward Park, 5900 Lake Washington Blvd. S.

Pritchard Beach, 8400 55th Ave. S.

Colman Pool, 8603 Fauntleroy Way S.W., outdoor heated saltwater pool on the waterfront of West Seattle's Lincoln Park. No car access; walk or bike about a half mile from either end of the park. Daily, noon to 7 p.m. ($1.75-$2.50.).

Bellevue parks Lifeguards 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at:

Clyde Beach, 2 92nd Ave. N.E.

Meydenbauer Beach, 419 98th Ave. N.E.

Chism Beach, 1175 96th Ave. S.E.

Chesterfield Beach, 2501 100th Ave. S.E.

Enatai Beach, 108th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 35th Street.

Newcastle Beach, 11206 S.E. 50th St.

Kirkland parks Lifeguards noon to 8 p.m. through Aug. 15; then noon to 7 p.m.:

Houghton Beach, 5811 Lake Washington Blvd. N.E.

Waverly Beach, 633 Waverly Park Way, about a mile north of central Kirkland off Market Street.

Peter Kirk Pool, 380 Kirkland Ave. Public swim, 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily ($1 for two-hour session).

Mercer Island parks Lifeguards 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at:

Clarke Beach, 7700 E. Mercer Way.

Groveland Beach, 5800 W. Mercer Way.

Redmond

Idylwood Park, 3650 West Lake Sammamish Parkway N.E. Lifeguards 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

South End parks

Steel Lake, 2410 S. 312th St., Federal Way. Lifeguards 11 a.m. to dusk daily.

Lake Meridian, 14800 S.E. 272nd St., Kent, off Kent-Kangley Road. Lifeguards 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Angle Lake, 19408 International Boulevard (old Pacific Highway), SeaTac. Lifeguards noon to 8 p.m. daily.

Gene Coulon Memorial Beach, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton, southeast tip of Lake Washington, noon to 8 p.m. daily.

Kennydale Beach on Lake Washington Boulevard North at North 36th Street, Renton, noon to 8 p.m. daily.

Henry Moses Pool, 1411 Houser Way N., Renton. Public swim, noon to 4:25 p.m. daily, and 6:15 to 8 p.m. Fridays and weekends ($1.10-$1.60).

Everett

Silver Lake, at Thornton A. Sullivan Park, 11400 W. Silver Lake Drive, lifeguards 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.