Adult Swim
Tips for aquatic access in the capital city
By Gia Del Prince |
|
Baby, it's HOT outside ...
But I'm sure you already knew that. It's finally that time of year again when we can strip down to our bathing suits, slather on the SPF and enjoy the blazing summer sun. When we're not killing ourselves with the 9-5 routine, it would be nice to spend a few hours diving into the deep end and playing Marco Polo, right? Unless you are lucky enough to live in an apartment complex with a pool, or have the uncanny ability to make friends with those possessed of splash access, here are a few local options for the rest of us.
-The lovely little area of Grandview has a sizeable outdoor swimming pool perfect for the occasional visit with friends on the weekends or on a day off. A day pass will run you $6 and, if you're an avid pool-goer, the season pass is $135.
-The Reynoldsburg Swim Center carries a little steeper pricing. A day pass there will cost $8.75.
-Columbus Recreation and Parks has an interesting little setup. First you have to purchase an ID/Rec pass for $1. From there you have access to any of eight different swimming pools. Only problem: four out of the eight pools are closed for the summer of 2010. I know, right? So while Dodge, Tuttle, Windsor and Marion Franklin pools will be open to the public for fun in the sun, Blackburn, Fairwood, Lincoln and Maryland pools will be sitting dry.
-Water parks are always a killer place to go on the hottest of days. Zoombezi Bay, located right next to the Columbus Zoo in Powell, is an incredible outdoor spot for an all day slide-fest. A day pass there will cost around $30, but buying a pass at Kroger will relieve you with a little discount. Fort Rapids (Indoor) Water Resort is a hilarious, but entertaining attraction located off I-70. They seem to be a little strict with the rules: no outdoor food or drink, bring your own towel, etc. But in the arena of having hotel accommodations with a built-in slide park, and if sun tanning really isn't your bag, it's kind of a hard place to beat. A day pass there is $26.95, dropping to $21.95 for those arriving after 4 p.m.
-For backyard fun, Big Lots sells a really nice inflatable "kiddie" pool (103"x69"x22") for a cost effective $24. An outdoor BBQ, some frozen drinks, and you and your friends submerged in 200 gallons of water is a decent last resort.
In the end, some of us are lucky and the rest have to be crafty. Some of you are probably using Google Maps' satellite imagery to find pools to break into as you read this. That is not recommended, but good luck. Either way, access is going to be in demand during these sweltering summer months, so plan ahead to make sure you're not left sweating in the grass.
Pool Pass
Grandview Pool
1515 W Goodale Blvd.
www.grandviewheights.org
Reynoldsburg Swim Center
7215 E Main St.
www.reynoldsburgswimcenter.com
Dodge Pool
545 Sullivant Ave.
Tuttle Pool
240 W Oakland Ave.
Windsor Pool
1300 Windsor Ave.
Marion Franklin Pool
2699 Lockbourne Rd.
www.columbusrecparks.com
Fort Rapids
4560 Hilton Corporate Dr.
www.fortrapids.com
Zoombezi Bay
4850 West Powell Rd.
www.zoombezibay.com
Originally Published: July 1, 2010
