Significant cuts are coming to the Seattle Parks Department budget this year and the outlook for pools is not pretty. Users of all Parks facilities will need to speak loudly and clearly throughout the long budget process to minimize cuts.
[Updated 5/5/2010] The budget hearings are over now, so here are the best ways to provide feedback:
- Contact the City Budget Committee.
- Contact the City Council Members directly.
- Contact the Acting Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams.
- Send a letter: Mayor’s Office, Seattle City Hall 7th floor, 600 Fourth Avenue, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124-4749
- Call the Mayor’s office: (206) 684-4000
- Fill out the Mayor’s online form.
What are the stakes?
This afternoon, Superintendent Tim Gallagher told us:
You should be aware that the entire aquatics program is in danger of being eliminated.
At the very least, it looks like hours and programs will be cut across the Parks system. Given the cost of running older facilities, pools are going to need strong advocacy to tread water. Also worrisome is the vulnerability of funding set aside for the reconstruction of the Rainier Beach pool. That piggy bank could get broken.
The West Seattle Blog and the Capital Hill Blog started warning about cuts to aquatics 1-2 months ago. From the Superintendent’s comments, news clearly hasn’t gotten better as the departmental budget process has progressed.
Any more bad news?
The recent resignation of Superintendent Gallagher is a wake-up call for all of us Parks advocates and a sad loss for Seattle. Superintendent Gallagher was a determined advocate for fixing exactly the issues most challenging to our pools. He pushed the city to identifying long-term funding solutions for repairing and operating aging Parks facilities.
Seattle’s pools were largely built 30 years ago, making them particularly vulnerable to the scantiness of long-term maintenance funding and to budget cuts. Older facilities are more expensive to maintain and operate, particularly when upgrade funding has not been available. [As you know, pool fixes weren’t included in the recent Parks levy, despite your concerted efforts.]
Superintendent Gallagher addressed the systemic funding issues for Parks in the Seattle Times today:
Four voter-approved levies over the past 15 years have added millions to the capital budget. That money, Gallagher said, has helped create more than 40 new parks, fund extensive renovations and build new community-center space.
At the same time, he said, existing operations and maintenance dollars “can’t support it.”
The way he sees it, the department is faced with two options: Get out of certain operations, such as running pools or community centers. (Gallagher said he doesn’t support that.) Or create a municipal-parks district that brings in its own tax revenue. Running a parks department through the city just isn’t sustainable, he says.
Any good news?
Evergreen pool in White Center is reopening on May 1, thanks to grass-roots efforts. Swimmers returned to the pool for a “soft” reopening on April 19th.
[Update]
Additional information is appearing swiftly on a new Facebook group — Save the Seattle Public Swimming Pools. Kathy Whitman (Director of Aquatics for Seattle Parks) just shared the following there:
Tim Gallagher was interviewed on King5 TV tonight and indicated that he expected to see 3 pools close, most of the wading pools, some beaches, 2 community centers, etc… He indicated that the first cut would be as early as June for $2.5M for Parks and Recreation.
The budget projection also indicates that there will be… a much bigger cut coming in January. His quote in the newspaper was “the media should be focusing on the upcoming collapse of a truly great Park system”…
Last-Minute Opportunity: Provide Input to Mayor-Elect McGinn
22 Nov
Posted by admin as Uncategorized
Mayor-Elect Mike McGinn helped Project Seattle Pools develop a strategic plan last summer. Pool supporters now have an opportunity to help Mike’s transition team refine its own plan. As demonstrated by the time Mike donated to our project, he is a big believer in empowering community members to bring positive change.
Mike’s transition web site asks for community input on three questions:
- How do we build the strongest possible team to achieve the policy objectives and values set forth by the campaign (grass roots community involvement, transparency and neighborhood focus)?
- How do we build public trust in the new administration?
- What do you view as the incoming administration and the city’s greatest challenge — what should the new administration do first out of the gate?
You can answer these questions on the city site, or in one of the two web forms provided by Mike’s support team.
Great City’s Form.Update: Comments only are open here now.- This group sent Mike to advise us as part of its Neighborhood Assistance Program.
Renee Staton’s Form.- Renee co-chairs the North District Council, which kindly provided a letter of support for pools.
Please note that comments will be compiled this Sunday evening (Nov 22nd).
You’ll also have the opportunity to provide input to the new administration at three upcoming town halls across the city:
- Northgate Community Center: Monday November 30th, 7 to 9pm
- Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center: Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7pm
- Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center at Rainier Beach HS: Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7 pm
Realistically, there is a lot on the new mayor’s plate. But it never hurts to pass on your letters about pools to the new administration!
Parks asked us to share this invite and two associated flyers:
Seattle Parks and Recreation invites the Rainier Beach community and swimmers to the third and final meeting for the new Rainier Beach Community Center and Pool. The meeting is Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Rainier Beach Community Center located at 8825 Rainier Ave. S.
At this meeting, Parks staff, A•R•C Architects and Counsilman Hunsker aquatic designers will present the refined schematic designs for the project, answer community questions and ask for final community input. The concept designs were developed with valuable input from citizens. Parks hopes to have the same quality participation at this last meeting to finalize the original ideas and create a fabulous facility for the community and swimmers.
Parks just asked us to share its flyer and announcement for the second design meeting for the Rainier Beach Community Center and Pool replacement:
Please join in a concept design meeting for the new Rainier Beach Community Center & Pool on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Rainier Beach Community Center.
This is a great opportunity to tell us what is important for you to have in your community and aquatic center.
Please come and participate in shaping this facility.
Best,
Karen O’Connor
Seattle Parks and Recreation
(206) 233-7929 fax: (206) 233-3949
Tuesday, August 18th is the last day to mail in your primary election ballot. You’ll be choosing candidates based on their positions on many issues, with pools just one of your considerations.
In honor of election day, we thought it might be helpful to daylight candidates’ positive efforts in support of public pools.
David Miller: As part of the committee that shaped the 2008 Parks Levy, David tried to make it possible for aquatics planning to be eligible for funding through the levy’s "Opportunity Fund." After the committee nixed the idea of funding pool planning or improvements directly, David contacted us with his "Opportunity Fund" idea and advocated for it on the committee. Unfortunately, changes to the Opportunity Fund’s guidelines did not pass the full committee. Project Seattle Pools appreciated his initiative and his advocacy.
Mike McGinn: Mike spent a very long evening last summer helping Project Seattle Pools create a strategic plan to target our advocacy efforts. He lent his many years of experience in community advocacy as a thoughtful mentor.
Councilmember Richard Conlin: During the summer 2008 budget deliberations, we appreciated Councilmember Conlin’s support. He would have supported funding aquatics planning in the 2009/10 budget if the appropriate green sheet had been brought to a vote. Furthermore, Councilmember Conlin’s staff patiently provided guidance to Project Seattle Pools when we were learning how to navigate the opaque levy and budget processes. Even though time was tight, his staff made time to help us understand how things worked.
Councilmember Nick Licata: During the summer of 2008, Councilmember Licata would also have supported aquatics planning if the appropriate green sheet had been brought to a vote, and if the money had come from a particular budget.
Disclaimer: This information does not imply an endorsement of any particular candidate. Pools are just one of many pressing issues and you’ll choose candidates based on the issues most important to you.
The 2009 Summer Splashtacular at Meadowbrook Community Pool on Saturday August 8th was a great success. Over 94 swimmers enjoyed a free swim from 1:30-3:00pm.
Swimmers practiced their lifesaving techniques at the life guard stations and swam their hearts out in life jacket relays. The high-dive saw lots of action and the shallow end was bustling with family fun. Giveaways included cloth grocery bags, rubber duckies, certificates for private swim lessons, and free passes to Meadowbrook swimming pool.
Thanks go to the Seattle Parks Department, which co-sponsored this event with Project Seattle Pools, and to QFC for the donation of cloth grocery bags. Thanks also go to the many Project Seattle Pools volunteers who helped Parks organize and staff the event.
In April, groups of pool supporters in both NE and SE Seattle submitted applications for neighborhood matching fund (NMF) grants. These matching grants would have made it possible to begin the long planning process necessary for adding to and/or upgrading Seattle’s public pool facilities.
The reason given for both rejections was generic. Both NE and SE teams received the standard rejection letter sent to all rejected applicants. We are fairly confident that our grant was not rejected based on the merits of the argument or the quality of the proposals, but rather due to the political and economic climate. Thank you for your support of these proposals and your interest in accessible swimming for all.
There is an opportunity to resubmit grant application every year, so pool supporters are welcome to use the materials we have prepared to submit future grants independently or in conjunction with Project Seattle Pools. The materials submitted are available here.
Upcoming events that may interest you:
- Tomorrow: Planning meeting for the Rainier Beach Pool replacement
- Tuesday June 9, 2009. 6:30 - 8:30 at the Rainier Beach Community Center.
- Organized by the Seattle Parks Department, which seeks to “learn about what is important in a community center and pool for this neighborhood.” The Parks Dept is eager for community input. Details.
- August: Summer Splashtactulars
- Saturday, August 8th at both Meadowbrook (1:30-3:00) and Rainier Beach Pools (time TBD). [Updated 6/8/09: Time corrected.]
- FREE admission. Lots of fun, pool games and prizes. Info on water safety will be available too.
- Events are sponsored by both Seattle Parks and Project Seattle Pools.
- Email Christine@seattlepools.org if you would like to help with either event.
Other updates:
- NE and SE pool planning grant applications submitted
- Kudos to Christine, Aimee, Yvette and Melanie for their tireless work in submitting Neighborhood Matching Fund Grant Applications. Details.
- We expect to be notified of the City’s decisions on these applications by mid-July. If awarded the grant, work to hire an urban planning consultant would begin early fall. Public Planning Meetings would be held during the winter/spring of 2009-2010.
- Pool closures looming
- Many pools in our region are threatened by tight budgets and overdue maintenance. We’re tracking the list of pools here.
- In Seattle, supporters of the UW’s Hec Ed Pool seek your support in signing a petition to keep this pool open.
Help Parks Dept. Design the Rainier Beach Pool Replacement: Tuesday, June 9, 6:30-8:30pm
03 Jun
Posted by admin as Uncategorized
The Seattle Parks Department would like to invite you to an open house to discuss the design of the "possible replacement" of Rainier Beach Pool and Community Center. Public input and participation are invited and encouraged.
Rainier Beach pool is reaching the limit of its useful life, so Parks plans to replace it when funds become available. According to Parks, "The design team with ARC Architects in the lead will be running the meeting beginning at 6:30. The pool designer is from California and will be part of the meeting as well."
When: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Where: Rainier Beach Community Center
8825 Rainier Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118-4928
Contact: david.graves@seattle.gov
Members of the community have long been able to join the Husky Master Swim Team and swim at the UW’s Hec Ed Pool. With the recent elimination of the UW swim teams, Hec Ed swimmers need your help to keep this pool open:
Dear Friend:
As you know, the University of Washington Men’s and Women’s Swim Teams have been cut. While there is a push to self-fund the swim teams, one possible unintended consequence of the current decision would be to close the Hec Edmondson Pavilion pool. This closure would ruin at least three more UW associated teams that use the pool (not counting the numerous high school swim meets and that occur there). Men’s and Women’s Club Water Polo and Husky Masters Swimming use the facility year round and due to size restrictions, the IMA pool is not an alternative.
Please support us to keep the Hed Ed Pool open by signing the below online petition. We will be sending the signatures to the UW athletic department in the coming weeks.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/HecEdPool
Thank you for your support!
We’re keeping a running list of endangered pools and programs here so that you can keep tabs on pool concerns near you. New:
- Mount Rainier Pool (Auburn) has been added to the "endangered" list.
- Some public wading pools in Seattle will be closed this summer to allow for updates necessary to comply with a new safety law.
From today’s Seattle Times: Injured vets to lose rehab pool in White Center
His service as an Army paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division cost Cyril Miller two good knees. A couple of hundred rough landings can do that.
"I was a paratrooper; that’s all you need to hear," said Miller, 71, who lives in West Seattle.
Miller, like some other local veterans, relies on Evergreen Pool in White Center and its weekly rehabilitation classes to feel better. Since leaving the Army about five decades ago, Miller has had both knees replaced, was diagnosed with diabetes and underwent six years of dialysis before receiving a kidney transplant in 2007.
But soon the county budget will cost him, too.
After June 30, Evergreen Pool, owned and operated by King County, will be shut down. That’s because it’s among the "lifeboat" of services funded for only half of the year due to the county’s budget problems. … read more>>
More info on pool closures in the Seattle area is available here.
In April, groups of pool supporters in both NE and SE Seattle submitted applications for neighborhood matching fund (NMF) grants. These grants would make it possible to begin the planning process necessary for adding and/or upgrading Seattle’s public pool facilities.
Thanks go to the many pool supporters who helped with our NMF application by pledging hours of volunteer time as matching contributions. The grants are now under consideration by the City.
It is important to do planning like this even in lean economic times because public planning is a slow process. Doing long-term planning now ensure we have well-thought-out and broadly supported plans at hand when better economic times return. City Council Resolution R31073 recommends that the next Park capital levy address unmet swimming needs, so ready-to-go plans will be needed when that levy is composed.
Southeast NMF Application (.doc)
Friends of Pools in SE Seattle will hire a professional urban planner to work with Seattle Parks and the community to make site recommendations for a new outdoor pool in southeast Seattle, to assess the service capacity of existing indoor facilities serving residents in the southeast, and to suggest long-term financing options.
Northeast NMF Application (.pdf) Northeast NMF Budget (.pdf)
Friends of Pools in NE Seattle will hire a professional urban planner to work with Seattle Parks and the community to make site recommendations for a new outdoor pool in northeast Seattle, to recommend enhancements to existing indoor facilities serving residents in the northeast, and to suggest long-term financing options.
See also: Letter of support for NE NMF from the Northeast District Council (.doc)
Tight budgets and deferred maintenance have impacted a growing list of swimming facilities and programs in the past six months. Recent news:
Carole Ann Wald Memorial Pool (Saint Edward State Park) has been closed due to budget cuts. Will reopen soon, but funding is hazy:
- St. Ed’s Wald pool could reopen soon (Kenmore Reporter)
- New Operator to Reopen Carole Ann Wald Pool at St. Ed (Kenmore Blog)
- Get involved in the effort to keep this pool open, or just stay informed: Join Bill Leak’s mailing list, http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Support_Northshore_Aquatics/
Yost Pool (Edmonds) will remain open this year:
- Edmonds pool will open in June, thanks to donors (HeraldNet Everett)
- Contact us if you’d like to get in touch with people involved in efforts to keep this pool open.
Juanita High School Pool (Kirkland) will likely close at the end of the summer:
- Juanita High swimming pool faces shut-down (Kirkland Reporter)
- Facebook group: Save the Juanita Pool
Info on other pools in danger of closure:
- Pools at Risk (Pacific Northwest Swimming)
- Seattle-area pools in jeopardy of closing (King-5 News, 3/12/2009): "The Fircrest swimming pool in Shoreline will end operations Friday and the Evergreen pool in south Seattle is expected to lose its King County funding in June."
- Another local pool may face closure, this time Ruiz-Costie in Bothell (Bothell/Kenmore Reporter, 7/20/2009)
UW Swim Team (Seattle) eliminated, as part of UW budget cuts:
- Washington To Discontinue Swimming Programs (Official UW news release)
- UW Cuts Swimming Teams and UW’s heartless decision leaves swimmers out in cold (Seattle Times)
- Cost of UW athletic programs. (US Dept. of Education)
- Alum efforts to save the teams (and possibly build a pool):
UW Hec Ed Pool (Seattle) endangered:
Mount Rainier Pool (Auburn) endangered:
- KING Pool Closures - A Very Real Problem (KING Aquatics).
Wading Pools in Seattle closed this summer:
- Seattle parks to operate fewer wading pools this summer — (Allows completion of updates necessary to comply with a new safety law).
[Update: We’re updating this post with additional information on pool closures as we receive it. Newly reported pool issues appear at the end of the list.]
The Parks Department will hold its next long-term planning meeting for Magnuson Park on February 3rd. We strongly encourage pool supporters to attend because attendees will be asked to prioritize Magnuson improvements. It would be very helpful to have pool supporters in attendance.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009: 4:30 – 6:30 PM
- Magnuson Building 406 − Garden Room. 6310 NE 74th Street
- Agenda for the Magnuson Park Community Communications Committee
- Key Agenda Item:
- 5:00-6:25 Review and prioritize the potential list of amenities and improvements to Magnuson Park—break out session
- 5:00-6:25 Review and prioritize the potential list of amenities and improvements to Magnuson Park—break out session
- Meeting notes from the Dec 10 meeting (provided by Parks). Our summary.
Happy New Year, Public Pool Supporters!
Project Seattle Pools will hold its first meeting of 2009 at the Columbia Branch Library on Wednesday, February 11th from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
We’ll discuss the following:
- How pools fared in the 2008 budget cycle.
- Funding options for the Comprehensive Aquatics Plan & next steps.
- Applying for a Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) Grant.
Location: Columbia Branch Library
4721 Rainier Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98118
The Columbia Branch is located on the west-side of Rainier Avenue South, between South Edmunds Street and South Alaska Street. Directions to the Library
If you missed last night’s meeting: Superintendent Tim Gallagher gathered ideas from the public for a long-term vision for Magnuson Park. He encouraged anyone who missed the meeting to email comments to him at Timothy.Gallagher@Seattle.Gov. Make sure to use his full name — there’s a "Tim.Gallagher" in the City’s transportation department who gets a lot of Parks email! You can also comment on whether 4:30pm or later on in the evening is a good time for you to participate in future meetings, or just request to join the email notification list for future meetings.
We’re delighted to report that pools were well represented, so you do not need to drown Tim in pool emails right now :). Thanks to all who spoke for pools last night!
What’s next? Parks is going to organize another meeting where your participation will be important. Attendees will be broken up into small groups. Each small group will come up with a future vision for the park — drawing *exclusively* from items mentioned last night, ideas emailed to Tim or existing plans for Magnuson. Items included in each group’s vision will need to have unanimous support of all members of the group. This means there will be some horse trading, so having people who care about pools in each group would be a good thing.
Yes, the process to shape the vision for Magnuson will be long, but participation is the only way to get pools (perhaps an indoor/outdoor complex?) back into the vision for Magnuson.
Cool thing we noticed: A graphic showing Magnuson’s potential actually included a pool as a possibility for the Building 2 site. Building 2 (mapped on the right) occupies a large spot in the Historic District and Parks says it must be demolished — making it a perfect site for pools. The only other potential use Parks mentioned last night was "Potential film studio."
New Parks Program: “School of FISH” free/discounted swim lessons
11 Dec
Posted by admin as Uncategorized
Just saw this on the Parks Department web site — looks like it’s the follow-up to the "Learn to Swim" program that was cut in the 2009-2010 city budget. Neat to see that Parks found a way to continue free/discounted swim lessons for kids despite budget cuts!
School of "FISH"
Beginning January 2009
School of FISH (Fun Instruction in our Swimming Holes) is a specially priced, beginning swimming lesson program for families. Learn beginning swimming skills with your school-aged child in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
School of FISH offers discount pricing of $2 per lesson for a paired parent and child. Your first session (10 classes) is free with a voucher. Please register ahead of time in person at one these three pools, online or over the phone.
This program is intended for elementary and middle school-aged children and their parents. Each child must be accompanied 1:1 in the water by an adult.
Beginning swimming skills taught in this program include water adjustment, bubble blowing, breath holding, kicking on front, back float and using a life jacket.
Join our School of FISH! Have some fun! Jump in the pool!
Magnuson Park Meeting, Wednesday, December 10, 4:30 pm. We just learned of an excellent opportunity to voice your support for a future public pool at Magnuson Park. Superintendent Gallagher "…is interested in hearing from the community about what people would like to see next in this unique urban park." Location: Magnuson’s "View Ridge Room" at Building 406 (“The Brig”). Full info.
January Team Meeting. We’ll address next steps, including applying for a Neighborhood Matching Fund grant to partially fund the Comprehensive Aquatics Plan. We’ll meet at a community center in Southeast Seattle. Members of our mailing list will receive an invitation with details in a few weeks. Email info@seattlepools.org to join that list.
Thank you. A hearty thanks for your enthusiastic letters to the City Council in support of funding a Comprehensive Aquatics Plan. As you know, tough economic times meant that the Council had to focus its budget efforts on Health & Human Services this year. Nevertheless, your efforts accrued strong goodwill among Councilmembers. This will pay off in future years. Councilmember Burgess described your efforts as "some of the best grassroots lobbying efforts that I’ve seen this year." According to Councilmember Godden, these efforts "certainly will not be forgotten [in future budget cycles]." For further Council feedback, see this post.
Feel free to use part or all of this update in your neighborhood or team newsletter. Thank you for your ongoing support for public pools!
Seattle Community Council Federation Supports Aquatics Planning
07 Dec
Posted by admin as Uncategorized
Project Seattle Pools thanks the Federation for its letter of support, delivered to the City Council in November:
Dear Councilmembers:
At its October 23rd meeting, the Seattle Community Council Federation, a coalition of community groups throughout Seattle, endorsed funding for the proposal for a Comprehensive Aquatics Plan. We were disappointed to learn that due to the current economic climate, funding will not be available during the current budget cycle. We urge you retain funding for a Comprehensive Aquatics Plan as a priority in future budget cycles and to think creatively about alternative sources of funding in the coming year.
Swimming is such a healthy activity for seniors, families and kids, yet Seattle is sorely lacking in facilities. There is especially a need for therapeutic pools to serve the needs of those with disabilities who must currently travel to the eastside.
With a Comprehensive Aquatics Plan, the City will have the tools it needs to improve its current pool system, develop siting criteria and a needs assessment, address maintenance issues and explore funding options.
The Federation urges you to continue to consider funding for a Comprehensive Aquatics Plan in the future. Thank you for considering our views.
Sincerely,
Rick Barrett, Vice President
Economic conditions necessitated the recent halt of our efforts to see the Comprehensive Aquatics Plan funded this year, but the news wasn’t easy for any of us. We thought you would appreciate the supportive words sent to us by many members of the City Council:
"I appreciate your understanding. Yours are some of the best grassroots lobbying efforts that I’ve seen this year, and I truly hope that we will be able to move forward with this in the near future." — Tim Burgess
"I appreciate your recognition of our budgetary situation and the difficult choices that are ahead of us. Your generous decision to postpone your effort on behalf of Project Seattle Pools is commendable. It gives your organization much credibility and it certainly will not be forgotten. We thank you for recognizing the constraints and are grateful that you have taken this action so that others may be served. It has been a great pleasure to get to know you and your organization and I am optimistic and hopeful that we can work together in the near future." –Councilmember Jean Godden
"I will build upon your work and seek to further our efforts to improve our pools as well as plan for additional pools when possible in the future. Right now we are scrambling to feed and house people and keep our commitment to human services programs. Please keep in touch." — Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
"Thank you for your understanding. Let’s hope that our economy is in a very different place this time next year." – Councilmember Jan Drago
"Thanks very much for this thoughtful and reasonable decision. I am very sorry that this is the situation, and appreciate how hard you are working on this." –Councilmember Richard Conlin
"I think most people would agree that public swimming pools are an appropriate and desired component of any municipal parks system, and Seattle could no doubt make good use of additional pools.
… I am very concerned that the Mayor’s proposed budget may well need to be trimmed when we get updated sales tax and business & occupation tax revenue projections. These two sources provide nearly 40% of our General Fund revenues and are both very sensitive to changes in consumer spending, which appears to be slowing in a significant way. (We have already seen a huge falloff in real estate excise tax revenue. A year ago we were projecting that we’d receive $51 million from this source in 2008, but now expect to receive only $33 million.)
If the updated revenue forecasts do require us to cut from the proposed budget I think we will again be forced to consider reduced library and community center hours. I’m also concerned about possible voter rejection of the upcoming Parks Levy and how we will find the millions of dollars for necessary seismic and mechanical upgrades to the city-owned Asian Art Museum and Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center that are included in the levy package.
…I see both the need and value for more pools, it is simply a question of what we can afford and whether this is the time." — Councilmember Richard J. McIver
