Swimming Beaches

City of Kirkland Swimming Beach Rules

Waterfront Beaches – Designated Swimming Area Rules:

Lifeguards are on duty daily from 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM June 28 – Labor Day. All beaches will have beach rules and lifeguard on duty signs posted when lifeguards are on duty.

No Lifeguard On-Duty: If there is inclement weather, or the air temperature is under 65 degrees, lifeguards will not report to the beaches. A sign will be posted outside of the lifeguard office.

Camps and Groups: Groups larger than 15 are encouraged to contact the City of Kirkland 48 hours in advance of an intended visit. Please call 425-587-3360. 

Life Jacket Loaner Station: All beaches have designated swim areas marked and all lifeguard offices offer a free life jacket loaner program.

Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test: All children 12 and under must pass a Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test before proceeding into water deeper than chest depth and/or cross the shallow water buoy line marked by the Blue/White Buoys. Testing is required the day of, due to daily changing lake conditions.

Aquatics staff have authority to enforce all pool rules. Persons refusing to obey rules and conditions established by the City of Kirkland and enforced by the lifeguards is subject to removal from the beach area.

1. Swimmers must remain within the designated swimming area and are prohibited from swimming into or out of the park swimming area.
   a. There is No Swimming beyond the Red/White Buoys line.
2. All children 6 and under must be supervised by an adult. Adults must be in the water, within arms reach of the child at all times.
3. All non-swimmers and swimmers unable to pass the Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test must remain in water no more than chest depth and are not permitted to cross the shallow water buoy line.
       a. Non-swimmers 12 and under unable to pass the Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test are Not Permitted to wear life jackets in the deep water swimming areas.
4. No sitting or hanging on float lines. No climbing or hanging on perimeter lines.
5. No horse play such as pushing, dunking, or holding others around the neck.
6. Any floatation devices entering the swimming area must be approved by the lifeguard staff. All floatation devices must stay in designated areas. No floatation devices on or within 5ft of the dock or pier. Rafts with oars are not allowed in the swimming area.
7. No diving in shallow areas.
8. Diving is NOT allowed anywhere at Waverly Beach or Juanita Beach. Diving is allowed in designated areas only at Houghton Beach.
9. No throwing of rocks, sand, sticks or other hard objects.
10. No glass containers on the beach.
11. Please do not engage in activities that will interfere, distract, or obstruct lifeguards from performing their responsibilities. Do not take actions that may endanger other beach users.
12. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed in the park.
13. In case of emergency call 9-1-1.
14. First-Aid Kit is located at Lifeguard Office

Dock Rules:

1. No running on the docks.
2. No swimming under the docks.
3. Keep ladders clear.
4. Jumps from the dock must be done facing forward.
5. Do not dive into shallow water.
6. Diving is allowed only in designated areas.
   a. When diving, dive straight out.
   b. Spins, flips and back dives are NOT Allowed.
7. Diving at Houghton Beach may be suspended if water levels become too shallow.

Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test

All children 12 and under must pass a Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test before proceeding into water deeper than chest depth and/or cross the shallow water buoy line. The purpose of the Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test is to show a swimmer’s confidence in the water and ability to swim 25 yards safely and continuously without assistance at the waterfront beach.

Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test – Testing Requirements:

• Testing is required the day of, due to daily changing lake conditions.
• Goggles and Life Jackets are not allowed to be worn during the Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test.
• This test is done in shallow water and preformed with a lifeguard present.
• Children are allowed to take the swim test only one time per visit. A second test may be allowed at the Lifeguard’s discretion.

In order to pass the Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test, a swimmer must complete all of the following:

1. Swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards safely and continuously without assistance at the waterfront beach.
   a.  Swimmers must show confident/strong swimming mechanics by only using front crawl or breaststroke – Swimmers must remain horizontal on top of the water and have some level of proficiency in the swim stroke. Underwater swimming is not permitted.
   b. The swimmer must swim continuously without standing or stopping – briefly stopping to breathe is allowed.
   c. Swimmers must also have controlled rhythmic breathing (side-breathing or quick pop-up breathing)
2. At the end of the 25-yard swim, the swimmer must safely exit the swimming area.

• If a swimmer does not pass the Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test, the lifeguard will let the swimmer know what they need to work on in order to pass the test.
• All children that have passed their swim test, must wear their wristband to allow them to swim in deeper water.
• All beach patrons, regardless of age can and could be waterfront swim tested at the discretion of the lifeguards.

Waterfront Beaches –

Life Jacket Loaner Stations: All of the City of Kirkland swimming beaches have Life Jacket Loaner Stations at the lifeguard office. If a life jacket is needed, please speak with any of the lifeguards on duty to check out a life jacket.

Life Jacket Loaner Stations:

• Coast Guard Approved Life Jackets are available at our Lifeguard Offices. If a life jacket is needed, please speak with any lifeguards on duty in the lifeguard office.
• Children wearing a life jacket must be always supervised in water by an adult.
• Parents may not take children wearing a life jacket into depths higher than chest deep.
• Non-swimmers 12 and under unable to pass the Deep-Water Waterfront Swim Test are Not Permitted to wear life jackets in the deep water swimming areas.
• LIFE JACKETS DO NOT REPLACE THE NEED FOR SUPERVISION

Borrowing a lifejacket is EASY, here is how:

• Ask a lifeguard for assistance if needed.
• Remember to check the label to make sure it is the right size and weight.
• Life jackets designed for adults are not designed for children to wear.
• Always make sure to:
  • Make sure the life jacket is properly fastened.
  • All straps, buckles or zippers are secure.
  • How to check for a proper fit:
    • The 3-inch Rule for Kids: With the child standing normally, arms at side, grab the shoulders of the life jacket and lift up. If you can move the life jacket more than 3 inches up (or above the ears), it doesn’t fit properly. How high the jacket rides are how it will fit them in water. Straps should be snug.
    • The Touchdown Test for Adults: With the jacket on, raise your arms as though signaling a touchdown. Look to the left and then to the right, making sure the jacket doesn’t hit the chin.
• If a life jacket fits properly, it will help keep your head above the water. If it’s too big, the life jacket will ride up around your face, and if it’s too small, it won’t keep your body afloat.
• Wear it throughout your visit at our beaches and remember to return used life jackets to the Lifeguard Office once you are done using it for your visit.

City of Kirkland Municipal Codes – Kirkland Designated Swimming Beaches

Kirkland Municipal Code 14.20.010 – Swimming shall be confined to:

1. To restricted swimming areas; or
2. To within fifty feet from the shore or a pier unless the swimmer is accompanied by a watercraft.
   Beyond 50 feet from shore, the King County Code requires the swimmer to be accompanied by a boat which is within 25 feet of the swimmer.
   
   To maintain a clearly defined swimming beach, lifeguards discourage swimming immediately outside the lifeguarded area. In the interest of public safety, there is need to maintain a defined perimeter buffer of 150 feet from the swimming areas on Lake Washington.

Kirkland Aquatic Service Beach Lifeguards are instructed to educate “offshore swimmers” of the following:

• Swimming within 50 feet of shore is consistent with the law.
• Wading or swimming at a distance away from the swimming beach could have an impact on the operation of the lifeguarded area as any reasonable persons [lifeguard] attention could be drawn away from their area of coverage due to your presence in the water outside of the swimming area.
• For your safety, we strongly encourage you to remain within the designated swimming area.
  • Note: if the swimmer is beyond 25 feet of shore- approaching 50 feet and is not accompanied by a boat within 25 feet, lifeguards should inform the swimmer that they will be contacting King County Marine Patrol.

The lifeguarded swimming beaches offer maintained bottom conditions, are free of aquatic weeds, and do not have boat traffic, all of which are possible concerns in other parts of the parks.

Lifeguards do not want to push open water swimmers out into boating traffic; they will allow swimmers to pass through the beach area if necessary but will talk with them about the boundaries of the lifeguarded swimming beach and remind them about the 50 feet rule.

Kirkland Municipal Code 11.80.110 – Watercraft

• Motorized watercraft must remain 100 yards away from the end of docks and swimming areas.
• Standup Paddle Boards, kayaks, canoes, etc. are not permitted within the designated swimming area

Kirkland Municipal Code 11.80.080 – Bird and Water Fowl

• Park goers are not to in any manner, to tease, annoy, disturb, catch, injure or kill at any animal, bird or fowl.
• Park goers are not permitted to feed any fowl.

Kirkland Municipal Code 11.80.210 – Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs, and Marijuana Prohibited.

• It is an unlawful civil infraction for any person to possess an open container of any alcoholic beverage or marijuana while in any city park.
• Any person having an open container within one’s immediate reach or control (such as at a bench, picnic table, blanket, or motor vehicle where that person is sitting) within a city park may be considered to be in possession of the container for the purposes of this section.

Kirkland Municipal Code 11.80.060 – Dogs, pets, or domestic animals.

• Dog must be on a leash at all times while at the park. 
• Dogs, pets, or domestic animals are not permitted to enter any designated swimming area.

Kirkland Municipal Code 11.80.200 – Building Fires

• Fires are not permitted to be built in Kirkland parks or beaches.

Children 12 and under at Houghton, Waverly, and Juanita Beaches are required to pass a waterfront swim test in order to swim beyond the shallow water buoy line. Testing is at the discretion of the lifeguard. If you need a waterfront swim test, please speak with any of the lifeguards on duty in the lifeguard office.

Waterfront Swim Test:

The waterfront swim test consists of 25 yards crawl stroke with face in the water, side breathing, without stopping, without the use of goggles.

• Children must take a swim test each day they visit the beach.

• Children are allowed to take the swim test only one time per visit. A second test may be allowed by the Senior Lifeguard’s discretion.

• All children that have passed their swim test, must wear their wristband to allow them to swim in deeper water.

• All beach patrons, regardless of age can and could be waterfront swim tested at the discretion of the lifeguards.

All of the City of Kirkland swimming beaches have lifejacket loaner stations at the lifeguard office. If a lifejacket is needed, please speak with any of the lifeguards on duty to check out a lifejacket.

Borrowing a lifejacket is EASY, here is how:

• Lifejacket Loaner station is at the Lifeguard Office.

• Ask a lifeguard for assistance if needed.

• Check the label to make sure it is the right size.

• Fasten all buckles, zippers and straps.

• Make sure it fits correctly. 

• Wear it throughout your visit at our beaches. 

• Return used lifejacket to Lifeguard Office to be cleaned. 

Lifejackets Save Lives – Always provide adult supervision at our waterfronts.

Waverly Beach Park
633 Waverly Way

Waverly Beach has a swimming area completely enclosed by a "U" shaped sunbathing dock. This area offers a shallow water swimming area for smaller children, and a deeper water swimming area.

Juanita Beach Park
9703 NE Juanita Drive

Juanita Beach has a designated swimming area completely enclosed by a "U" shaped dock, with shallow beach and dock entry swimming areas.