This Saturday (May 1) at 10:30am, King County Executive Dow Constantine, along with Burien Mayor Joan McGilton and Keith Coole of the Highline School District, will join Ed Marrs, president of White Water Aquatics LLC for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at White Center’s Evergreen Community Aquatics Center.

This celebration will be followed by a free family swim for the entire White Center Community.

White Water Aquatics, along with dozens of citizens of White Center, have worked countless hours to re-open The Evergreen Commuinty Aquatics Center since it was closed by King County due to budget shortfalls last August (read our previous coverage here). Everyone is invited to this celebration and the subsequent “free swim” afterward.

“Special emphasis is being placed on developing programs which provide swimming instruction to disadvantaged communities, special needs populations and senior citizens – as well as dedicated access for lap swimmers and family swim time”, said Joel Schweiger, recently named general manager of Evergreen, and head coach for White Water Aquatics.

Last month, officials of White Water Aquatics Management, LLC, a not-for-profit subsidiary of an area swim team, announced an agreement to re-open the pool for the community at large. The parents of children who compete on the Whitewater Aquatics Swim Team have worked with The Highline School District and King County to develop an operating agreement over the last year. Private donations were raised by White Water Aquatics families and friends.

“Swimming and water recreation offer lifelong health and safety benefits, and we are happy to again offer the important benefits of swimming to White Center, our community”, said Ed Marrs, president of Whitewater Aquatics, and a professional firefighter in The North Highline Fire District. “Our unique public-private partnership is an example of how citizens can mobilize and assist government in challenging times”, he continued.

About Evergreen Community Aquatic Center
The Evergreen Community Aquatic Center, formerly Evergreen Pool, is located at 606 SW 116th Street in Unincorporated King County. Built as one of the forward thrust bond issue pools in the 1960’s, it was operated by King County. In January, ownership of the pool reverted to The Highline School District, which did not have the funding to re-open the pool. The pool is adjacent to the Burien annexation area but will remain in Unincorporated King County.

About Whitewater Swim Club
Whitewater Swim Team Club is a not-for-profit swim club which is governed by a parent board of directors, and coached by professionals. Sanctioned by USA Swimming, which governs the sport to the Olympic level, the club has over 80 youth’s age 7-21 training competitively. The swim club is open to all.

For more information, visit the pool’s website here; to download a schedule, click here (PDF file).

After being closed by King County on Aug. 31, 2009, on Monday (April 19), the newly-dubbed “Evergreen Community Aquatics Center” re-opened with swimming lessons, open laps and more.

The big Grand Opening is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st, with a free public swim. Another free swim is scheduled to immediately follow the White Center Spring Clean on May 15th.

The Evergreen Community Aquatic Center, formerly Evergreen Pool, is located at 606 SW 116th Street next to the Evergreen High School campus. Built as one of the forward thrust bond issue pools in the 1960’s, until last year it was operated by King County. In January, ownership of the pool reverted to The Highline School District, which did not have the funding to re-open the pool.

Here’s a link to the pool’s schedule, which includes pricing info (PDF file).

Here are Photos taken by Michael Brunk at Monday’s re-opening:

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Slideshow

This Wednesday, March 24th, there will be an important Highline School District board meeting, with a vote on turning over operations of White Center’s Evergreen Pool to Whitewater Aquatics on the agenda.

The meeting is at 6pm at New Start Alternative High School (formerly known as Salmon Creek Elementary), located at 614 SW 120th Street.

According to an email we received:

At this meeting we expect the board to vote on the contract to turn over the operations of the Evergreen pool to us.

We are asking that WhiteWater members attend this meeting to show support for this transfer.

Please wear as much WhiteWater attire as you have to identify us to the school board. Information on the meeting is below.

We will be having Head Coach Joel talk, as well as a senior swimmer. Come show your support!

- Ed Marrs

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 – beginning at 6 p.m.
New Start Alternative High School (also known as Salmon Creek Elementary)
614 SW 120th St, Seattle 98146

Courtesy Whitewater Aquatics Board of Directors President Ed Marrs comes this update on the status of Evergreen Pool, which closed Sept. 1st:

Negotiations between King County, Highline School District and Whitewater Aquatics Management, LLC (WWAM) continue regarding pending repairs and maintenance to the Evergreen pool, and takeover of the management of the pool by WWAM. King County has agreed to make renovations to the pool, but asked WWAM to have access to $100,000 in seed money to absorb the costs of re-opening the pool.

To date, WWAM has contributed $30,000 and last week they received contributions or pledges from WhiteWater families for another $8,000. Some families are pursuing corporate gifts or grants from their employers (they are a non-profit, so any contributions are tax-deductible).

Whitewater’s goal is to have the necessary funding in place so they can take over and re-open the pool on January 1st, 2010.

Aside from avoiding the problems of pool closures faced by other swim clubs (including Des Moines’ Mt. Rainier Pool), Whitewater has a unique opportunity to assume complete control of the operation, a position rarely afforded other clubs. As such, they’ll continue to offer the same family-friendly schedules and practice frequencies.

According to Marrs, Whitewater has two issues that they need help from the public with:

1. “The king county council has said that in the Executive budget to the rest of the council there is money for some capital improvement projects.  It is imperative to us that this money is approved as is.  In past pool transfers, capital improvement money has been passed along to the group that has taken over the pool.  We need to get the public to e-mail the King County Council and let them know that this money in the budget needs to passed.  Here’s a link to a page where people can give input to the council:  http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget/Testify_Online.aspx
2. WhiteWater Aquatics is in a unique position.  We are the first group to take over operation of a pool without the backing of a city.  The county is asking us to have approximately $100,000 in reserve to re-open the pool.  This money will be used for advertising, payroll, and supplies to get us going until we get money coming in from our programming.  To this end we are going to need financial support directly from the community.  We are asking citizens and businesses to donate to our management group.  We are a 501(c)(3) so all donations are tax deductible.  If for some reason we are unable to reopen the pool we will return all donations.  I have attached a letter we are sending out to the public:

Dear Friends of Evergreen Pool,

As you know, the Evergreen pool was closed on August 31st. Due to budgetary shortfalls, King County has decided to mothball the pool. We are very fortunate to have a second pool in Tukwila for the community’s use; however, it too is slated for closure in December, 2010.

A team of dedicated Whitewater Aquatics members have been working hard evaluating all of the possible solutions for keeping the Evergreen pool open and available to the community. When comparing the Evergreen Pool to successful pool management plans, it became apparent that there was unrealized potential with the Evergreen Pool. Our plan would be to operate it as a community pool with a more efficient business plan by:

• Utilizing streamlined swim lessons
• Efficient group usage and special groups’ access that maximizes staff time.
• And most importantly, an ongoing advertising and marketing outreach

Together, these operating strategies would generate a profitable revenue stream that other successful pool management plans have achieved.

We have formed a non-profit company Whitewater Aquatics Management, LLC (hereafter known as WWAM) to try and save Evergreen! We presented a detailed business plan to King County and the Highline School district where WWAM would assume management of the Evergreen Pool no later than January 1, 2010. The King County council is requiring WWAM to have access to $100,000 in seed money to ensure the long term viability of the pool.

We have secured a $30,000 loan but we need to raise $70,000 more to meet our goal. We are currently exploring several fundraising options including community fundraisers and grants but these things take time and will be utilized for ongoing operational costs in the future. We are faced with a short time line to get the pool up and running for January 1, 2010 so we are asking our membership and the community for donations to help achieve this goal. We ask that you share this letter with any other potentially interested parties.

We would ask that you donate as generously as you can and have the following giving levels:

• $100-$250-Friends of Evergreen
• $250-$500 -Patrons of Evergreen
• $500-$1,000 -The Evergreen Circle
• $1,000 and above – The Evergreen Gold Club

By giving at these levels, you will be acknowledged by name on a giving wall that will be on display at Evergreen. In addition you will be invited to a reception and re-opening event.

Clearly we understand that these are difficult times, but our hope is to encourage everyone to give at whatever level they are able. No donation is too small; if everyone can give even a small amount we will be able to reopen this pool. This donation is tax deductible as Whitewater Aquatics is a non-profit organization. Each person is encouraged to review our business plan which is available upon request. In the event the Evergreen Pool management transition does not occur, the money will be returned to you promptly.

Please make all checks payable to WWAM and mail all donations to:

WWAM
PO Box 46517
Seattle, WA 98146

Please include your name, mailing address, phone number and an email address. If you would like your donation to remain anonymous please indicate that along with your donation.

You will promptly receive an email confirmation of your donation along with a receipt for tax purposes.

Any questions can be directed to Bryan Hastings at (206) 291-7141 or Head Coach Joel Schweiger at (951) 218-1790.

Sincerely,
WhiteWater Aquatics Management