The original mural inside the building for Colman Pool contains elements that all have specific meanings including the building of Seattle, the notes of the Star Spangled Banner, swimming, scouting, CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE.
Colman Pool opening Sunday May 29, after a brief delay, is almost ready again for another season, its 70th, as one of the most popular locations in the Seattle Parks Department.
A 70th Birthday Bash is set for July 4 from 1:45pm to 4:45 pm with cake, music and games.
Built in 1941 by the Colman family on Point Williams the Laurence Colman Pool replaced an unheated tide pool built by the City of Seattle in 1925. The original pool is the subject of one of West Seattle's murals. It was built as a memorial to Laurence Colman by his son Ken.
The pool itself has a mural called "Youth and Freedom painted by famous muralist Ernest Norling in its lobby, depicting significant elements including the notes of the Star Spangled Banner, a worker building Seattle, the spire of the Plymouth Congregational Church, swimmers, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, baseball, badminton and basketball, and The Osprey that carried people to Camp Colman.
The pool is heated, saltwater (500,000 gallons) that comes from Puget Sound. It is 20 yards wide and 50 meters long. The depth is 3.5 feet at the south end and 12.5 at the north end. The water enters through a number of circulation inlets, and is captured and delivered to a tank by a pump from three wells located on the beach. The water is then heated in a boiler and maintained at 84 to 85 degrees.
Colman Pool is operated by Coordinator Wendy Van De Sompele, and Pool Operator Mark Sears, whose father Norman was the original Pool Operator in 1941.
It's the scene of swimming competitions during the season, with the first one coming up July 7-9 which closes the pool to the public. It will close again July 15-17.
Colman Pool will be open on weekends only through June 11 and begin 7 day operation on June 18.
Preseason Hours:
Noon-2:45 p.m. Lap Swim
3-4:45 p.m. Public Swim
5-7 p.m. Lap Swim
You can learn more about it on the Seattle Parks website here. Call the pool at 206-684-7494.
Admission to the pool is under $5 for recreational swimming. The full list of admission fees are on their web page. They also offer season passes, exercise programs and of course swimming lessons.
YOU CAN SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THE "YOUTH AND FREEDOM" MURAL BY CLICKING THE LINK ABOVE.
