My daughters decided they loved summers at the Lake Grove Swim Park so much that they worked there as lifeguards for several years.

Even though we live on the lake, the Lake Grove Swim Park was our family’s favorite hangout during the summer when our kids were growing up. Why?

•It’s beautiful. Situated at the south end of the lake, the view from the swim park is hard to beat. And you don’t have to pay waterfront prices to enjoy it! Just be a resident within the Lake Grove swim park boundaries which you can find here.

•It’s a social spot. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, odds are by summer’s end, you will have forged some new friendships at the swim park. “The regulars” (of which we were included) get to know each other’s idiosyncracies—where you like to park yourselves, who brings the best snacks, who has a running tab at the concession stand, whose dad will play ball with the kids, what mom brings the best magazines to read and share, who has an extra towel-water bottle-sunscreen if you need it.

•It’s well supervised. We were hands-on parents, always taking the “tough” shift of laying out in the sun watching our kids while they played. But it was nice to know that we could visit with friends or read a chapter of our book without risking our kids safety—park lifeguards keep a constant watch on all three pools. They enforce rules too like “no running on the dock” or “no flotation devices” which give the illusion of safety and also can make it harder for them to see all the swimmers in the water.

•It’s refreshing—and I’m not just talking about the dip in the lake you can take here. I’m referring to the fact that it’s a place that encourages you to unplug (from technology) and connect with people and nature. You won’t find a lot of kids checking their Facebook posts here or plugged into their headphones. Instead they are engaging the old-fashioned way—in person.

The Lake Grove Swim Park is open now through Labor Day weekend seven days a week from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m., weather permitting. Half hour swim lessons are offered Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Registration is required. Call for information. 503.635.0355. 3800 Lakeview Boulevard.

Give me a call if you’d like to look at some homes in the Lake Grove Swim Park district boundaries so you and your family can enjoy this magical spot in Lake Oswego. 503.939.9801.

And check out what others are saying about the Lake Grove Swim Park.