Pool supporters attended the first Magnuson Park Open House to learn about renovation plans for the Park.   Magnuson Park is just one of many sites that the City could eventually consider for pools.  There is certainly no pool proposal on the table for Magnuson (or any other site) right now, despite the implication of the Seattle PI article today. 

Highlights from today:

The Parks Department must hear a city-wide call for pool space before it will prioritize pools. The Seattle Parks Department says it must see clear support for pools ACROSS Seattle, not just in one part of the city, before it can prioritize pools in its Strategic Plan.  Please help us get pools into the Strategic Plan!  Here’s how:

1. Speak for pools at one of the Parks Dept. Strategic Planning Public Meetings (Nov. 26 - Dec. 6).  Meetings outside of NE Seattle are not yet well-covered by swimmers.

2.  Ask your friends in other parts of the city to speak for pools at the Parks Strategic Planning Public Meetings in their own neighborhoods.  You can send them our outreach letter, our Flyer or our url:  www.seattlepools.org.  All areas of the City will be considered by the Parks Department for any eventual pools.

Electronic Alternative:  If you can’t attend of the meetings, you can now use the new Parks Department Survey to comment on the need for pools.   Pool supporters can also email comments to Susanne, the Parks Department Strategic Plan coordinator:  Susanne.Friedman@Seattle.Gov.  We’ve heard that in-person attendance at the planning meetings has the largest impact, but all comments are influential.  Thank you!!

Building 2 at Magnuson is still available.  We confirmed that there are no imminent plans on the table for Building 2 at Magnuson.  This large hanger will likely be torn down.  Building 2 has an unblocked view of the water from its North side (map).  

The old pool at Magnuson is beyond repair.  The old, military pool in Building 47 at Magnuson was described by a Park official as "right out of a horror movie."  It isn’t salvageable.  Bringing this mothballed pool up to code and replacing its systems would cost more than building anew.