Without tens of thousands more in donations, 1,300 Spokane kids will be left out of public pools this summer.
Spokane city pools open on Monday and Spokane County and Spokane Valley pools open Friday. With the number of kids on the free season pass wait list growing by the day, the need for donations is urgent.
Money doesn't concern 8-year-old George, who looks longingly at the A.M. Cannon Pool in the West Central neighborhood.
"My grandpa will actually get [passes] so we can go swimming this year," George said.
George and other boys at the park Thursday say the slide is the main attraction at the Cannon pool.
"You can race your friends on them," an 'almost 11-year-old' Nicholas said.
Nicholas is one of the hundreds of kids who has a free season pass already. The passes are provided by the "Make a Splash" program sponsored by the Spokane Parks Foundation.
"Sometimes the West Central [community center] makes it to where you can go there for free if you sign the paper, which I was smartly doing," Nicholas said with a smirk.