THIS IS AN ARCHIVED NEWS STORY FROM 2020 AND THE CONTENTS OF THIS ARTICLE MAY NO LONGER APPLY. FOR THE LATEST COMMUNITY NEWS CLICK HERE.

Lake Boren, located west of Coal Creek Parkway and south of Newcastle Way, is one of Newcastle's favorite places! It is surrounded by a beautiful public park and, most years, it is home to community events like Concerts in the Park, Newcastle, Days, and Newcastle Fourth of July. In 2020, swimming was added to the list of allowable activities at Lake Boren Park! Historically swimming was not allowed in the lake, but in late 2019 the Newcastle Planning Commission updated City Code to allow swimming. This code update followed the addition of a new swimming dock on the east side of the lake. Swimmers can access the swimming dock from the Lake Boren Esplanade (the paved trail west of Coal Creek Parkway).

Newcastle contracts with King County to perform swimming specific water quality monitoring at the swimming dock each week throughout the summer months. We are monitoring for E. coli bacteria. If there is too much E. coli bacteria in the water, Newcastle will close the swimming dock and not allow swimming in the lake until the amount of bacteria in the lake declines to a safe level. You can find the most up to date swimming monitoring data here. You can find data for additional swimming beaches throughout King County here.

Swim at your own risk. No lifeguard on Duty. Remember, to protect water quality, pets are never allowed in swimming areas.