The Wading Pool by Thursday Pools answers a question that every parent and grandparent eventually asks: where do the youngest members of the family go when everyone else is in the main pool? The answer is a dedicated fiberglass wading space with an 18-inch uniform depth throughout, a non-skid surface, and a bench where adults can sit in the water and watch children play safely at their level. The Wading Pool is not a toy or a compromise. It is a permanently installed, ISO 9001-quality fiberglass structure that gives the smallest swimmers in your household their own zone, and it works just as well for households that want a safe play area for pets as it does for those with toddlers just getting comfortable around water.
Wading Pool Thursday
Pool
Soak Up the Sun and Cool Down
What Is the Wading Pool?
The Wading Pool is a shallow fiberglass inground pool with an 18-inch uniform depth throughout. It comes in two sizes:
Wading Pool 1: O.D. 9′ x 9′ 1’6″ | I.D. 7’11” x 7’11” 1’6″ | 510 gallons
Wading Pool 2: O.D. 13’9″ x 11’9″ 1’6″ | I.D. 12’9″ x 10’9″ 1’6″ | 970 gallons
Thursday Pools specifically designed the Wading Pool for pets and toddlers, noting that the uniform 18-inch depth throughout makes it “a wonderful place for pets and toddlers” with no varying depths or unexpected drop-offs to navigate. A built-in bench provides seating for adults or older children to sit in the water and supervise younger swimmers at eye level. Both sizes also support raised or flush construction, meaning the Wading Pool can be installed flush with a patio surface or raised above it to create a visually distinct multi-level outdoor space.
What the Wading Pool Is Not
The Wading Pool is not for swimming in the traditional sense. At 18 inches of depth, it is a wading and play space, not a lap pool, sport pool, or deep-water pool. Adults cannot swim in it, and older children will quickly outgrow it as their primary water activity. If your household needs a full swim space, the Wading Pool is meant to complement a primary pool rather than replace one.
It is also not the same as a tanning ledge or a Wet Deck. Those features are designed primarily for adult sun lounging in very shallow water. The Wading Pool’s 18-inch depth and 510 to 970-gallon volume create an active play space where toddlers can stand, splash, and move around freely without reaching water that is beyond their depth. That functional distinction is what makes it the right structure for its specific purpose.
Why Thursday Pools?
Thursday Pools is the only fiberglass pool and spa manufacturer in the United States to hold ISO 9001 certification for quality management and ISO 14001 certification for environmental stewardship. Every product that comes out of their Fortville, Indiana facility, including the Wading Pool, is built to those certified standards.
The non-skid gel coat finish on the Wading Pool is the same surface used across all Thursday Pools designs. Thursday Pools notes that this surface covers floors, benches, and steps throughout the product and is specifically easy on bare feet. On a structure designed for toddlers and pets, where traction and surface comfort are directly connected to safe daily use, the non-skid gel coat is one of the most functionally important features the Wading Pool has.
The Wading Pool also supports both raised and flush construction applications, which Thursday Pools specifically calls out as a design flexibility that allows homeowners to achieve the look they want. A raised Wading Pool installation creates a multi-dimensional outdoor space that can be visually distinct from the primary pool. A flush installation integrates the Wading Pool seamlessly into the patio surface, making it feel like a natural extension of the outdoor living area.
The Wading Pool is also auto-cover ready, which keeps unsupervised access prevented and reduces debris and maintenance work between uses.
Why Fiberglass, and Why the Wading Pool?
An above-ground plastic kiddie pool is disposable and cannot be taken seriously as a long-term outdoor feature. A concrete wading pool requires resurfacing as it ages and carries none of the low-maintenance advantages of fiberglass. The Thursday Pools Wading Pool is a permanent inground fiberglass structure built to the same quality standards as their full-size pool designs, and it carries the same lifetime structural warranty.
At 510 or 970 gallons depending on the size you choose, the Wading Pool has one of the lowest water volumes in the Thursday Pools catalog. That means chemical management is fast and inexpensive, heating the water to a comfortable temperature is simple, and seasonal startup and closing require minimal time and product. The gel coat surface resists algae, so the Wading Pool stays cleaner between uses without the kind of scrubbing a textured concrete surface would need.
For families who want to install the Wading Pool alongside a primary pool, the result is a backyard where every age group has appropriate water. Children who are too young for the main pool have a dedicated, safe space. Adults who want to supervise without standing at the pool edge have a bench inside the Wading Pool where they can sit in the water and remain fully present.
Ready to Give Your Youngest Swimmers Their Own Space?
Every family member deserves to be in the water. The Wading Pool by Thursday Pools makes sure your youngest, smallest swimmers always have a place that is right for them. At Ohio Paradise Pools, we have been serving Northeast Ohio families for over 32 years. We handle every aspect of your installation, whether the Wading Pool is part of a full pool project or a standalone installation, and we close every project with our two-visit pool school so you understand your system completely.
Call us today at (440) 610-5484 or schedule a free consultation to start planning your Wading Pool in Edison Park and the surrounding Ohio communities.
Available Sizes
You’re never too old for a refreshing wade. Cool off and watch the kids play
Cool off and watch the kids play.
Wading Pool FAQs
What age group is the Thursday Pools Wading Pool actually designed for?
Thursday Pools designed the Wading Pool specifically for toddlers and pets, noting the 18-inch uniform depth as the right depth for children who are still developing water comfort. At 18 inches, a typical 2 to 4-year-old can stand with the water at mid-chest height or lower, depending on the child’s height, which gives them freedom to move, splash, and play without the water presenting a risk of accidental submersion during normal standing play. It is not designed for older children who swim, but it is the correct environment for the youngest family members who are building their initial comfort around water before transitioning to a deeper pool. Adults supervising from the built-in bench can sit in the water and remain physically close to toddlers at all times.
Which Wading Pool size should I choose?
Thursday Pools offers two sizes: Wading Pool 1 at 9′ x 9′ with 510 gallons, and Wading Pool 2 at 13’9″ x 11’9″ with 970 gallons. The right choice depends primarily on your yard dimensions, your project budget, and the scale of use you anticipate. Wading Pool 1 is a compact square that fits where most other outdoor structures do not, and 510 gallons is extremely fast to heat and easy to maintain. Wading Pool 2 nearly doubles the water surface and allows more children or pets to use the space simultaneously without crowding each other. Ohio Paradise Pools will visit your property and help you evaluate how both sizes fit your yard before you commit to either.
Can the Wading Pool be installed as a standalone structure, or does it require a primary pool?
The Wading Pool is a fully independent structure with its own shell, plumbing, and water system. It can be installed as a standalone feature in a yard where a primary pool is not part of the plan. Thursday Pools notes that it is “perfect for small backyards,” which suggests it was designed with standalone use in mind as much as companion use. For households with limited yard space, a budget that covers a smaller project, or young children who need a dedicated safe water space, the Wading Pool as a standalone installation is a complete and well-considered approach.
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Thursday Pools specifically notes that the Wading Pool supports both raised and flush construction, a flexibility they call out as an advantage for achieving the look you want. A flush installation places the Wading Pool’s top edge at grade level with the surrounding patio or lawn, so the pool integrates seamlessly into the outdoor surface and reads as a natural element of the landscape. A raised installation elevates the Wading Pool above the surrounding surface, creating a defined visual distinction between the wading area and the patio, and producing a layered, multi-level outdoor space. Raised construction can also make it easier for adults to step in and out of the Wading Pool without bending down to ground level. Ohio Paradise Pools will show you both options in the context of your specific yard and help you choose the approach that fits best.
Is the Wading Pool safe for pets?
Thursday Pools specifically mentions pets when describing the Wading Pool’s 18-inch uniform depth, noting it is “a wonderful place for pets and toddlers.” The non-skid gel coat surface provides secure footing for dogs on a surface that does not abrade their paws, and the 18-inch depth means most medium-to-large dogs can stand comfortably in the water to cool off without being in over their depth. The shallow, consistent depth also means there are no unexpected drop-offs for a dog wading from one end to the other. The bench provides a place for adults to sit and manage entry and exit for pets who are less familiar with water. Ohio Paradise Pools can also discuss auto-cover options to keep the Wading Pool secured between uses if pets have unsupervised outdoor access to the yard.
Is the Wading Pool auto-cover ready?
Yes. Thursday Pools designed the Wading Pool to accept an automatic pool safety cover, which keeps the water inaccessible to unsupervised access when not in use. For families with young children or pets who have outdoor access to the yard, an auto cover on the Wading Pool is an important safety layer. Ohio Paradise Pools incorporates auto-cover planning into the design phase when it is part of your project so the hardware fits correctly with the Wading Pool’s specific geometry.
How does the Wading Pool work when installed alongside a primary pool?
When installed as part of a full pool project with a primary Thursday Pools design, the Wading Pool typically sits adjacent to the main pool and is planned as a coordinated part of the overall yard layout. The two structures operate independently, each with its own water system, but they share the same outdoor space and are designed together from the start for visual and functional coherence. The practical effect is a backyard where parents can supervise younger children in the Wading Pool while older children and adults use the primary pool, all within the same outdoor space and line of sight. Ohio Paradise Pools plans and installs multi-structure projects and will show you how the Wading Pool integrates spatially with your primary pool during the design consultation.
How does maintenance work for the Wading Pool?
At 510 or 970 gallons, the Wading Pool has one of the smallest water volumes in the Thursday Pools catalog. Balancing water chemistry in this volume requires minimal product and minimal adjustment time. The gel coat surface resists algae, which keeps the Wading Pool cleaner between uses than a textured concrete surface would. Routine care involves regular chemistry testing, skimming if needed, filter maintenance, and seasonal startup and closing. Ohio Paradise Pools covers your specific Wading Pool maintenance routine during our two-visit pool school after installation, including what seasonal management looks like in Ohio’s climate.
Does the Wading Pool carry a warranty?
Yes. Thursday Pools backs the Wading Pool with a lifetime structural warranty on the fiberglass shell and a 15-year surface warranty on the gel coat finish. The structural warranty covers the shell against defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the pool. The surface warranty covers the gel coat against delamination and structural coating failure for 15 years. Ohio Paradise Pools supports those manufacturer warranties with over 32 years of Northeast Ohio installation experience, an A+ BBB rating, and three consecutive years as Cleveland’s swimming pool contractor of the year (2022, 2023, 2024).
How does the Wading Pool compare to adding a beach entry to a primary pool?
A beach entry pool, such as the Thursday Pools Sandal Beach Entry, provides a gradual zero-entry slope into the primary pool that serves very young children and adults with mobility considerations. The Wading Pool is a separate, dedicated structure with its own distinct 18-inch depth designed for toddler play and pet use. The two serve related but different purposes. A beach entry gives the entire primary pool an accessible gradient entry. The Wading Pool gives young children and pets their own separate water space away from the main pool activity, where their scale of use, their depth, and their safety requirements are completely distinct from the adults and older children using the primary pool nearby. Many full backyard projects include both.