New water slide to add fun, profit potential to King County's Renton Pool

2005 Archived News

Jumping in the pool just became passé.

At least it has at King County's Renton Pool, which has installed a brand-new water slide. Users can climb a set of stairs, then slide down some 50 feet and zoom around a 90-degree turn before entering the pool's deep end.

The purple, white and yellow water slide will get its first public use tomorrow between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at a special dollar swim event—the $1 per hour charge includes use of the water slide.

County health officials signed off on the water slide earlier this week and pool staff members completed a round of safety tests involving adults and children of all ages, said Steve Chavey, Aquatic Supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Division of King County's Department of Natural Resources and Parks. Chavey says there will be no age restrictions on slide use, but young children will be asked to take a swimming test before being allowed to take the plunge.

The slide was purchased with funds allocated to the Parks Division's entrepreneurial program, an ongoing effort to create new profit-making programs, sponsorships and partnerships. "We're trying to make our pools that much more inviting, that much more fun," said Suzanne Little, director of the Parks Division. "At the same time, we're hoping the new amenities will bring new users, enhance the community and increase our income from these facilities."

A larger, more complex slide (giving users a full 360-degree spin) will be installed at the Vashon Pool before it opens for the summer, said Chavey.

Water slides have been proven to be good business generators. The former county pool in Bellevue has had a water slide for the last five years. That slide paid for itself in a single year through increased pool rentals (for birthday parties and other events), added Chavey. While King County doesn"t have that ambitious a schedule, "we are definitely looking to pay them off within four years."

The Renton Pool is located on the campus of Lindbergh High School at 16740 128th St. SW.

For more information on the waterslide or King County Pools, call Steve Chavey at 296-7643.