NAVIGATING A PATH FORWARD
As the only public aquatic facility operator in Snoqualmie Valley, with a documented need for a larger facility to adequately serve the community, our work for a larger aquatic facility is ongoing. There is an increased sense of urgency for finding a solution soon, given the age and condition of the current facility, which is truly on borrowed time.
Si View's professionally developed public aquatic center plan from 2019 is a community driven proposal that checks all the boxes for space needs and activities for all ages and abilities. With partnerships forming and new grant cycle opening up in 2025, our goal is to have a new proposal for District residents to consider in 2026. We encourage you to stay informed as the dialogue continues.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
Since the last capital bond measure in November 2023, our focus has been on building partnerships to spread the cost of the project over more funding sources. A public regional aquatic center will benefit all of Snoqualmie Valley, far beyond Si View Park District boundaries, and as such is a heavy lift for District residents alone.
Conversations with the City of North Bend, the Snoqualmie Tribe, our Legislative Representatives and others have all been encouraging, and echoed the same message – a public aquatic center will need to be appropriately sized to accommodate the needs of not only today but those of the next generation, and the facility will need to offer amenities for all ages and abilities from recreation to competition. The partnership and support of The North Bend City Council is an excellent example of how a regional aquatic facility can be developed and be more affordable by spreading the cost over more funding sources and lessening the burden on taxpayers. The City's preliminary proposed biennial budget for 2025-2026 includes funding in the Capital Improvement Plan in the amount of $5 million through park impact and REET funds towards a future pool project with Si View Metro Parks. If adopted in the budget, this commitment not only reduces the capital bond needs but opens other funding options through future partnerships, grants, and appropriations that the Park District alone would not qualify for.
WHY IS A POOL NEEDED?
Public aquatic centers offer swimming lessons and drowning prevention education, which are crucial skills for personal water safety, especially in a community surrounded by open waters. Public aquatic centers also benefit communities in other ways serving as epicenters for social interaction, physical health, and mental rejuvenation bringing the community together for play, fitness, competition and learning at all ages.
Si View Pool was built for a community that was a fraction of the size of our community today, and due to the pool's small size and limitations, our programming is heavily focused on water safety, leaving many other needs unmet. And even for the water safety programming, demand for lessons is far greater than what can be provided, leaving hundreds of residents on waiting lists each season. Swimming is a life skill that all residents should have opportunities to practice, whether in a learn to swim program, for fitness, aquatic therapy, enjoyment or competition. Today, with the aging Si View Pool, the District is committed to serving the community's aquatic needs and operating the aging Si View Pool until a long-term solution can be found, as long as it is sustainable to do so.
SI VIEW POOL REPAIRS
While these repairs are critical, they don't offer a long-term solution. The aging Si View Pool's mechanical systems need a number or repairs, if not a full overhaul. Over the last year, staff have prioritized these needs and worked with specialty suppliers for custom solutions to complete the most critical repairs as replacement parts for the 86-year pool components are not readily available. Guided by Si View Commission's strong commitment to continue providing public aquatic services for the community, the District is investing in the most urgently needed repairs in an effort to extend the life of the pool systems, and for short term, to keep the pool open to the public until a more permanent solution is found.
In October 2024, the pool's main circulation pump and motor were replaced resulting in a weeklong facility closure. The newly installed replacements are functioning well. The volume of water flow through the system has increased by approximately 300%, which will help with the clarity of the water in the pool. The old pump and motor that was replaced gradually lost its efficiency throughout the years and was leaking nonstop.
The next major repair project is the replacement of the pool drains. This is a federal requirement to keep the facility open to the public. New drain requirements call for a larger surface area creating less suction, improving visitors' safety. The challenge for Si View Pool has been designing a custom solution that minimizes the risk of expanding existing cracks in the pool. Anytime the pool is fully emptied, the pressure change can cause cracks to expand, involving risks to the integrity of the overall pool structure. This work must be completed, however, and it will happen in January, resulting in a facility closure from January 2-February 2. We appreciate your patience and understanding while this work is completed.
HOW DID WE GET HERE
Snoqualmie Valley was a small, rural community of less than 1,000 residents in the 1930s, when the pool was built. Today, The District population is 18,000 (2024 ESRI estimate) and the service area population is nearing 40,000, and Si View Pool can’t keep up with the demand. While staff are doing all that is possible to maximize the use of the available space and developing custom solutions to keep the aging mechanical systems running, Si View Pool is operating on borrowed time.
The community has voiced a need for a public aquatic center in every District survey for the last 10 years. Actions have been taken, with the 2019 feasibility study that produced a concept plan based on community input and market analysis, and a business & operations plan to ensure the future center's sustainability. Capital proposals have been brought to vote by District residents three times, in 2020, 2022 and 2023. Each time, a clear majority has voted in favor, but the required 60% supermajority has been missed by a small margin. With majority of District residents in favor, the Si View Commission is committed to addressing this need and continues to work with the community for a solution.
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