About
Outdoor pool at a YMCA, featuring a water slide and a rope-climbing course.
While specific daily temperatures may vary, outdoor community pools like Cottage Lake are typically heated for swimmer comfort, especially in the Pacific Northwest climate. Main pools are commonly maintained within a range of approximately 80-84°F (26-29°C), providing a pleasant swimming experience for all ages.
What are people saying (AI review summary)? Reviews for Cottage Lake Pool, managed by the YMCA, are largely negative, primarily criticizing the pricing structure and session length. Many users recall a time when the pool offered longer, affordable public swim times but now find the YMCA's policy of charging per hour (e.g., $5 for 50-minute sessions, with no family rate) to be excessively expensive, making it unaffordable for families and leading to an empty pool on warm days. Complaints also include a perceived abundance of restrictive rules, intrusive lifeguards, and mandatory swim tests for the single slide. Other issues cited are inadequate staffing, cold and dirty water, a hornet's nest incident, and the pool's unsuitability for lap swimming due to its shallow depth. While one review notes reasonable pricing for YMCA members ($3 for 2 hours) and commends the friendly staff, the overall sentiment is that the YMCA's management has significantly reduced the pool's value, community appeal, and overall experience.
Location
Gallery
Amenities
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Good for Children
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Accessible Entrance
Reviews
Listing Reviews
July 5th, 2024Amy G.
The Y has taken the community out of the neighborhood pool. Cottage Lake is neither a good pool for lap swimmers (you'll scrape your knees if you try a flip turn) nor for families (no family rate). The pool was nearly empty on a warm summer day, when it should be filled with kids. 1 or 2 children with separate, private instructors, and 1 dad with a child were the only people besides me. The Y could charge less and bring the fun back to the neighborhood pool.
July 6th, 2015jennk111
I used to love this pool. The swim sessions in the summer were almost 3 hours long and for one admission fee you could stay for the afternoon. Last year, the YMCA (who took over running the pool), decided that was too good of a deal and changed the 3 hour public swimming time into 3 separate, 1 hour sessions. So, for $5 per person, you could only swim for 1 hour. After the hour you could buy another bracelet and swim the next session. So, if my family wanted to swim for the 3 hours, it would cost me and my 3 kids $60. That's super expensive in my opinion. All other pools are at least 1 1/2 hour sessions. Kirkland pool is only $4 for a 1 1/2 session. I just don't get it. This year they made it even worse. Now the session starts at 5 minutes after the hour and ends 5 minutes before the hour. So, the session is only 50 minutes. Sorry, but the YMCA needs to change their policy...or at least offer subsequent sessions at a reduced price. So, if there isn't a line of people waiting for the next session, offer the next session for only $3 or something. They would still make $8 per person for 2 hours of swimming. Just a thought....
June 24th, 2017Bill Good
I find the place to be nice. I see all of the complaints listed here. For YMCA members it is 3 dears for 2 hours and 6 dollars for non members. This seems to be reasonable since the pool is small and thus costs to pay staff and life guards need to be absorbed. I find the staff to be extremely helpful and friendly.
December 22nd, 2016Cara Larson
I hear this pool is owned by the city and run by the YMCA. I brought my kids and we did not have a great experience. They did not have adequate staff to run the slide, there was a hornet nest near the pool (my 7 year old told a lifeguard and she brushed him off) and the water was very cold. We went during summer months. The charge per hour for swimming with two kids made me expect more than the experience. I don't think we will be back.
August 19th, 2016Cas Lorence
The WORSE place I've eve taken my daughter to! Super expensive! With ENDLESS rules, The lifeguards are all over you, they don't let you do anything! They put all the kids in a ridiculous swimming test in order to allow them to use the single slide they have! They charge you PER Hour! In fact the place is too small, only one slide, super dirty and with very limited time for free swimming and play in the pool. Completely wrong everything! Very disappointed.
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Opening Hours
| Sunday | 8:00 AM – 5:45 PM |
|---|---|
| Monday | 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM |
| Friday | 8:00 AM – 5:45 PM |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM – 5:45 PM |
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