H2O’Brien pool opens for the summer

The water playground for young children includes three different slides and several mini waterfalls. Photo by Erika Siebring.

This past weekend, the H2O’Brien Pool at the very end of the street opened for the 2018 season, right next to O'Brien Park. My family’s been going to this pool ever since my siblings and I were little kids, and why wouldn’t we? It is perfectly designed for families; with two large twisty slides, a water playground for little kids and a three-foot deep end, this is the ideal place to spend summer afternoons.

However, I grew up in a house with three siblings, which was a handful even as kids. So, here's a rundown of all the need-to-know information about this pool.

Cost: Parker residents can get in for $5 each or $4 for kids, and non-residents can get in for $0.50 more. This makes H2O'Brien less expensive than the Parker Rec Center pool and the Lone Tree Rec Center.

Food: At the concession stand, nothing sells for more than $5. But again, four kids. Bringing a picnic lunch to the pool is not only welcomed by the staff, but enhances the overall experience, regardless if you’re a child or adult.

Seating: There are two large, blue tarps that provide shade over a large portion of the lounge chairs. If you want one of those spots, though, you’ll have to plan; families typically arrive at 11 a.m. on weekdays and even earlier on weekends.

The pool is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and is only closed for Parker Days and extreme weather.