Dear Outdoor Pool Enthusiasts:

Now is the time to act!

Just one simple email can make all the difference. Please send an email today! See directions below.

Councilmember Della to Propose Feasibility Study to Site Outdoor Public Pools in Seattle

Councilmember David Della has agreed to sponsor a proposal to fund a feasibility study to site more public, outdoor pools in Seattle. This piece of legislation will be up for review and approval during the City Council’s budget process beginning now and ending with final vote to approve the Mayor’s budget in late November. Councilmember Della will need the support of the other Councilmembers in order to succeed in passing this legislation. Councilmembers will need to hear from YOU — their constituents– in order to vote yes.

A feasibility study will allow Seattle Parks to hire professional urban planners along with a pool consultant to look at the entire city and ask 1) how many more outdoor pools do we need, 2) what size and 3) where should we put them. This process will take 1- 1/2 years and will involve extensive community input. This is the first important step to ensure that whatever fundraising we do in the future is time well spent on sites that have full City and community support.

This study won’t make it through the budget process without your help! Councilmembers begin to listen once 20 people have contacted them. They act when they know that hundreds support the idea.

Here Is What To Do!

1. Compose a short (2 paragraph max) email stating your support for more outdoor public pools in Seattle. First, be sure to thank CM Della for his public service and attention to our Parks system. Then talk about why you think we need outdoor pools, what you love about the 2 pools we have, what benefits we’ll derive from them, etc.
2. send that email, individually, to 5 councilmembers below. please note that group emails are discouraged.

david.della@seattle.gov (chair of parks committee)
Jan.drago@seattle.gov (on parks committee)
richard.conlin@seattle.gov (on parks committee)
sally.clark@seattle.gov (alternate for parks committee, chair neighborhoods committee)
richard.mciver@seattle.gov (chair of budget committee)
nick.licata@seattle.gov
peter.steinbrueck@seattle.gov
jean.godden@seattle.gov
tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov

Here is an example statement to get you started…

Dear Councilmember So and So:

Thank you for your hard work on behalf of our citizens. Please support Councilmember Della’s proposal to fund a city-wide feasibility study to site outdoor public pools in Seattle. There are currently only 2 public outdoor pools available to the entire city and both are located west of I-5. Outdoor pools are community gathering places in the summer months; families stay all day, giving neighbors important time to reconnect. Unfortunately, outdoor swimming has become an exclusive activity in Seattle; waitlists for the private swim clubs are anywhere between 5-12 years long and membership fees start at $2,000. Please act now to increase the capacity of public outdoor pools. Your action will help expand the summer swim league, teach more children how to swim, and improve the quality of life for citizens in all economic groups.

Thank you for your time and support!
Christine Larsen
(Update: Elizabeth Nelson (elizabeth@seattlepools.org) is now the contact person for Project Seattle Pools)