Splash on for summer fun in indoor pools, lazy rivers
Cameron Wilson has fun sliding down a water slide at the new The Rush Funplex Aquatic Center in Syracuse on July 14, 2014. (ROBBY LLOYD/ Standard-Examiner)
The Rush Funplex Aquatic Center in Syracuse features a splash pad, water slides, lap pool, lazy river, and kiddie water feature. Photo taken on July 14, 2014. (ROBBY LLOYD/ Standard-Examiner)
Kendra Thurgood helps her daughter, Paige, down the little kids water slide at the new The Rush Funplex Aquatic Center in Syracuse on July 14, 2014. (ROBBY LLOYD/ Standard-Examiner)
Samantha Moulding has fun on a water slide while keeping out of the hot weather at the new The Rush Funplex Aquatic Center in Syracuse on July 14, 2014. (ROBBY LLOYD/ Standard-Examiner)
The Rush Funplex Aquatic Center in Syracuse features a splash pad, water slides, lap pool, lazy river, and kiddie water feature. Photo taken on July 14, 2014. (ROBBY LLOYD/ Standard-Examiner)
Tyler Ross paces back and forth, monitoring the kiddie toy area, during his lifeguard shift at the new The Rush Funplex Aquatic Center in Syracuse on July 14, 2014. (ROBBY LLOYD/ Standard-Examiner)
The Rush Funplex Aquatic Center in Syracuse features a splash pad, water slides, lap pool, lazy river, and kiddie water feature. Photo taken on July 14, 2014. (ROBBY LLOYD/ Standard-Examiner)
OGDEN — Children from across the Wasatch Front will be pouring out of school over the next couple of weeks and may be looking to hit the pool, but the weather may not cooperate. So what to do?
Hit the indoor pool! There are several options in Weber and Davis counties that will start their summer hours the day after Memorial Day.
Rush Funplex in Syracuse is a popular indoor destination spot because there are several options for kids. In addition to swimming there is miniature golf, go-carts, bowling and other activities.
Manager Raynie Villarreal said it works well to bring all ages of kids because moms can watch the younger kids in the pool while older kids swim in the deep end or go play other games at the funplex.
“We also have two big side doors where kids can go outside in the sun if they want to. They have unlimited access to the splash pad and outside or can be inside swimming, especially if it’s rainy,” Villarreal said.
Ogden resident Cassie Bugnet enjoys the variety of swimming options for her four children who range in age from 9 down to toddler. Her kids love the lazy river and big slides, but her younger kids like to hang out in the shallow areas in the swimming playground where there are buckets that fill with water and dump out on them.
“You are able to see your kids from the side of the pool but I just sat in the shallow area to be a little closer to my kids. And to enjoy a soak in the warm pool water,” Bugnet said.
GO! With Kids — Indoor swimming pools
For more Information on entrance fees, pool hours, swimming lessons and amenities, visit the websites of these pools in Davis and Weber counties:
• Rush Funplex, 1806 S. 2000 West, Syracause
• Clearfield Aquatic Center, 825 S. State St., Clearfield
• Ogden High School, 2875 Tyler Ave., Ogden
• Ben Lomond High School, 1075 7th St., Ogden
Also in Davis County is the Clearfield Aquatic Center, which boasts a lazy river and large slide with play areas for both young and old. Corky Kawamura of Ogden takes her grandkids to the aquatic center and said, “I like the many different levels or depths; children of all ages will find a depth comfortable for them.”
Kawamura enjoys letting the youngest ones splash in the shallow area which ranges from 6 inches to 2 feet of water. “Best part, it’s indoors; so if it’s raining we still can enjoy it,” she added.
Ogden has a few options for indoor water fun with the opening of both the Ogden and Ben Lomond high school pools.
Andrea Sweet, manager for these two Ogden School District pools, said she has been working to get the word out about what the pools have to offer. Ogden High’s pool is more of a competitive pool, with its shallowest level at 7 feet. Sweet said that doesn’t rule out young swimmers, but they need to know how to swim.
“We have competitive swim teams with young kids, but they are swimmers,” Sweet said.
There is also a water polo club for youth; “It is something that is really fun and I would love to see people get involved with it,” Sweet said.
Plus, because the pool is indoors, practice can happen anytime, during any weather. The water polo club will begin June 8 at Ogden High’s pool.
The newly opened pool at Ben Lomond High School is designed for leisure and young swimmers, Sweet said. There is a separate shallow area with a big slide and steps for easy access for young, inexperienced swimmers and families.
This facility also offers a Wibit Action Power XL, which is a large inflatable toy with climbing wall, ropes and slides that is set up in the middle of the pool for Saturday swimming.
“I really want to encourage families to come and check us out because it’s a great place to be,” Sweet said.
The Clearfield Aquatic Center and Ben Lomond High Pool are currently signing kids up for swim lessons on their websites and Ogden High’s pool offers a swim class for adults. All four of these indoor pools in Davis and Weber counties can also be reserved for private parties, with fees based on an hourly rate.