Head to the pool when summer heats up

Swimmers frolic on Memorial Day at the Forest Cove Warm Springs Pool in Cove. The Observer/DICK MASON

People seeking sites to chill need look no further than three public pool sites in Union County plus Lehman Hot Springs, 41 miles southwest of La Grande, and the Sam-O Swim (YMCA Pool) Center in Baker City.

Here is information about prices and hours...

The pool is open from 1 to 4 p.m. for recreational swims every day though Labor Day, Sept. 7. Swim lessons, aerobics classes and opportunities for lap swimming will also be offered regularly throughout the summer.

Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for those age 7 to 17 and $2.50 for those under age 6.

Suits and towels can be rented. Accessories such as goggles, nose clips and diving rings are sold at the pool.

Forest Cove Warm Springs Pool is fed by a spring that keeps the water temperature at 86 degrees. The water turns over every 14 to 16 hours. The pool is owned by Bob Pratt who purchased it from Dave and Teckla Cline in November 2005. The Clines had owned the pool for 34 years.

The pool had been known as Cove Warm Springs Pool until Pratt purchased it. Pratt made the name change to recognize Cove’s history. Cove was known as Forest Cove from the early 1860s through 1868.

Information: 541-568-4063.

VETERANS MEMORIAL POOL, LA GRANDE

Schedule from June 6 to Aug. 30

Recreation swims: 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Family Night swims: 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

The pool also will be open for water aerobics and lap swimming and lessons.

Admission for afternoon recreation swims: adults (18-59) $3.75, seniors (age 60 and up) $3, youths (2-17) $2.50, age 2 and under free with an adult. Admission if 50 cents more for non La Grande residents.

Admission for evening swims: $2 for recreation swims and $1 for family night swims.

Information: 541-962-1347.

ELGIN COMMUNITY CENTER POOL, ELGIN

• Open swims — Monday through Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays: 6-8 p.m.. and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m..

• Teen swims — Friday, 8 to 10 p.m.

• Family swims — Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 8 p.m. Parents are encouraged to come with their children to family swims.

Cost: $4 for adults and $2 for children.

Notes: The pool opens June 1 and closes Aug. 22. It will be closed on Sundays.

Swim lessons and aerobics sessions will also be offered throughout the summer.

Information: 541-437-9542.

LEHMAN HOT SPRINGS

HIGHWAY 244

(ROAD TO UKIAH)

Hours — Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Lehman Hot Springs is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Cost: $9 for those age 4 and up. The charge is $7 a person for parties of 15 or more. Those under age three are admitted free.

Information: 541-427-3015.

Lehman Hot Springs has three heated pools and one cold water pool. The three heated pools include two soaking pools. The temperature range of one is 115 to 120 degrees and the other is cooler at 102 to 107 degrees. The third one is a swim pool that ranges from 85 to 100 degrees.

There is also a cold water pool. Its temperatures vary depending on the weather.

The cold water pool, added in the mid-1990s, is not fed by Lehman’s hot creek.

Lehman Hot Springs is about 40 miles southwest of La Grande. To reach Lehman travel to Hilgard State Park on Interstate 84 and drive about 30 miles southwest on Highway 244 until reaching Lehman Hot Springs Road. Next drive east on this road about one mile to reach the facility.

Information: 541-427-3015.

SAMO-O SWIM CENTER (YMCA), BAKER CITY

• Open swims: Monday through Saturday, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. The pool will be closed July 4, July 17 after 1 p.m., July 18 and Sept. 7.

 Day pass fees: Age 60 and up — $4 a day or $2 in the evening; age 19-59 — $6 a day or $2 in the evening; age 3-18, $3 a day or $2 in the evening; age two and under — free.

Information: 541-523-7747.