A couple of the most anticipated times of year for children is the last day of school… and the opening of area swimming pools! It’s time to dig out your swimsuits, beach towels, and snorkels because swimming pools and splash pads across Bossier Parish are gearing up to welcome this year’s visitors. 

The Bossier Parks and Recreation Department runs two city swimming facilities that will open at the end of May. The Shed Road Pool located at 4208 Shed Road near Meadowview Elementary School will open on May 28, 2024. The Shed Road Pool hours are Monday – Saturday, 12-5 p.m., and closed Sundays. 

You can visit the Mike Wood Pool, which will open on May 28th, at 2200 Dennis Street in south Bossier City, Monday – Saturday, 12-5 p.m. This pool is also closed on Sundays. Mike Wood Pool features two slides, a diving board, and pavilions. 

There is a small daily fee for using the two city pools – $2 for adults and $1 for kids under the age of 17. The city offers a season pass for $35 or a family pass (maximum of 4 people) for $75. 

Bossier City also offers recreational spray parks that are already open to the public to get your summer fun started now. Those locations and hours are listed below:

• North Bossier Spray Park, 3050 Brownlee Road
• Hooter Spray Park, 1520 Hooter Drive
• Mitchell Spray Park, 1518 Cox Street

All three spray parks are open Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and provide a fun, safe place for children to let loose and burn off some of that extra summer energy! 

If taking in the sights and sounds of Mother Nature is more your swimming vibe, Bossier Parish is home to the beautiful Cypress Black Bayou and Recreation Area in Benton. The cost to enter the park is $5 per person in the vehicle. The lake features a beach area that is perfect for taking a relaxing dip on sweltering summer day. Information on opening dates and other park details can be found at www.cypressblackbayou.com or by calling (318) 965-0007. Pssst! There’s even a petting zoo!

While not technically in Bossier City, the Shreveport-Bossier area also boasts a water park in the form of Wonder Oasis Waterpark (formerly Splash Kingdom), which is now operating under new ownership. Oasis Waterpark is located at 7670 W. 70th Street in Shreveport, and according to recent posts on their social media platforms, the facility is undergoing several improvements. For current operating hours and other information, call (318) 938-5475 or visit www.wonderoasiswaterpark.com. 

Water Safety

Along with pool fun comes the need for water safety, something that the accompanying adults at these facilities should keep top of mind, even if there are lifeguards on duty. According to www.poolsafety.gov, supervision of children is one of the most important to keep in your safety toolbox as drowning can happen in a matter of seconds. Teaching children to swim is another live-saving skill that is often offered through free or reduced cost lessons in many communities. 

Experts recommend that both private and public pools have fence or barrier installed around it. In some areas, in-ground pools are legally required to have such a barrier. Alarms and pool covers also offer another degree of safety and protection. 

It’s strongly encouraged for adults and teens to learn CPR, which when done correctly, can save a person’s life. 

Other great safety tips to keep in mind include:

• Do not run around the pool.
• Never push or dunk someone in the pool.
• Never dive from the side of the pool unless you can verify that the pool is at least 9 feet deep. If the depth isn’t posted, don’t dive!
• If you see lightning or are experiencing other severe weather, get out of the water right away.
• Mermaid tails are popular these days, but can pose a serious safety hazard by making it difficult to swim by restricting leg movement.
• Never depend solely on floaties for small children. Kids wearing floaties still require constant supervision while in the water.

You may be hitting the water in a boat this summer, so life jacket safety is a must! Make sure you know how to properly fit your life jacket (especially if you’re 16 or younger since it’s required by law) by visiting the LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) website at www.wlf.louisiana.gov. 

Make a safe splash this summer and visit some of these area water attractions!