Howard Amon Wading Pool | Hours, Depth And Family Tips

The Howard Amon Park wading pool is a seasonal shallow-water stop for young kids in Richland, open 10am-8pm in summer.

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

On a hot Columbia River day, the pull of Howard Amon Wading Pool is simple: shallow water beside one of Richland’s easiest family parks. The pool is built for toddlers and younger children, not lap swimming, so the right plan is a short splash session paired with the playground, shade breaks, and a walk along the river.

The most useful facts are the hours, depth, supervision rule, and season. Richland posts daily summer hours of 10am to 8pm, lists the pool at 1,100 square feet, gives the depth as 6 inches to 30 inches, and says children must be accompanied by an adult because there is no lifeguard.

Visiting The Wading Pool In Richland: What Families Need To Know

The Howard Amon Park wading pool is best treated as a casual cooling stop, not a full aquatic center. Families usually get the most value from a 45- to 90-minute visit, then use the surrounding park for playground time, snacks, or a riverfront walk.

The pool sits near the playground at 500 Amon Park Drive in Richland, Washington. The location matters because families do not need to drive between activities: shallow water, play structures, restrooms, picnic areas, and the Columbia River path are all part of the same park visit.

The main planning limit is supervision. The posted rule is clear: no lifeguard is on duty, and an adult must accompany children. That makes the pool better for close hands-on play than for older kids who want deeper water, diving, or a supervised open-swim setup.

How Deep Is The Wading Pool?

The wading pool is shallow by design, with posted depths from 6 inches to 30 inches. The shallow edge works for toddlers getting comfortable with water, while the deeper end is still only 2.5 feet.

Those numbers change the gear you should bring. Swim diapers, water shoes, towels, sunscreen, and a dry outfit matter more here than float toys or goggles. A caregiver should still stay within arm’s reach because even shallow water needs direct attention with small children.

Family fit: choose this pool for toddlers and younger kids; choose George Prout Pool if your group needs a larger pool, lap lanes, diving boards, or a more structured swim session.

Hours, Season And Cost

Richland lists the wading pool as open daily from 10am to 8pm during the summer season, with closure after Labor Day. The most reliable pre-trip check is the City of Richland aquatics page, which posts the pool depth, address, hours, and supervision rule.

There is no standard ticket-buying step for this splash stop. Treat the cost as no posted pool admission, but check the city page before you go because public water amenities can close for cleaning, mechanical work, staffing, smoke, storms, or seasonal changes.

The pool is strongest as a weekday or early-evening stop. Midday summer heat can be intense in Richland, and the surrounding park gets busy when families combine the pool with the riverfront, picnic shelters, and playground.

What To Bring For A Smooth Visit

A good visit starts with shade, dry clothes, and a simple exit plan. The pool is shallow and casual, so the comfort items around the water matter as much as the water itself.

• Water shoes: useful for hot pavement and wet concrete around the pool.
• Swim diapers: bring extras if you have toddlers who are not fully toilet trained.
• Two towels per small child: one for drying, one for the ride home.
• Sun protection: use sunscreen, hats, and shade breaks during the strongest heat.
• Snacks and water: short pool sessions can turn into longer playground visits.
• A dry bag: keep phones, keys, and dry clothes away from splash zones.

Skip oversized inflatables. The pool is not built for large float toys, and the space works better when families keep the water clear for small kids walking, sitting, and splashing.

What Else Is Near The Pool

Howard Amon Park is the reason this wading pool works well for visitors, not just locals. The pool is one stop inside a riverfront park with play space, picnic areas, restrooms, sport courts, boat access, and a paved trail along the Columbia River.

The easiest add-on is the playground next to the pool. Children can switch between climbing, sliding, and shallow water without forcing the whole family back into the car.

For a longer outing, walk a short section of the Richland Riverfront Trail. The paved path links the park area with more Columbia River views, benches, and open green space, so a parent with a stroller can keep moving while older kids reset after the water.

Where To Stay Near Howard Amon Park

Richland is the right overnight base if the wading pool is part of a Tri-Cities family trip. Staying near the riverfront or Columbia Point keeps you close to Howard Amon Park, restaurants, walking paths, and easy drives to Kennewick and Pasco.

For families, the best hotel search area is not far from the Columbia River. That keeps mornings simple: breakfast, a short drive or walk to the park, a pool session, then lunch or rest before the hottest part of the day.

Use the map to compare stays around Richland and the Columbia River area:

When Should You Go?

The best time to go is shortly after opening or in the early evening. Late morning gives toddlers cooler pavement and cleaner routines; early evening works for families who want water play after naps.

Midday can still work, but it is the least forgiving window. Richland summers can feel dry and hot, and small children tire quickly when water play, sun, snacks, and playground time all land at once.

Best Plan For Families

The simplest family plan is a morning wading pool visit, a playground break, and a short Columbia River walk before lunch. That keeps the trip easy for small children and avoids turning a shallow splash stop into an overheated full-day outing.

1. Arrive close to 10am. Get settled before the warmest part of the day.
2. Start with 30 to 45 minutes in the pool. Keep adults close because no lifeguard is posted.
3. Move to the playground. Dry off, snack, and let kids switch activities.
4. Walk the river path if energy holds. A stroller-friendly loop can reset the group without much effort.
5. Leave before fatigue hits. A short successful visit beats a long, cranky one.

Pick Howard Amon Park for young children who want shallow water and nearby play space. Pick a larger pool or splash park when your group needs lifeguarded open swim, deeper water, or bigger water features.