Submitted by Friends of the Lopez Island Pool
The Friends of Lopez Island Pool is thrilled to announce that the state supplemental capital budget, which passed on March 8, includes $500,000 for a Community Swim Center to be built on Lopez Island. This could not have happened without support from Senator Kevin Ranker and House Representatives Kristine Lytton and Jeff Morris. The final budget passed unanimously in the Senate passed the House 96-2 and awaits Governor Inslee’s signature.
San Juan County is one of only two counties in Washington state without a public pool. Although the swim center project was originally conceived by and for Lopez residents, it has become apparent that all San Juan County residents suffer from the lack of year-round access to a community pool. The Swim Center on Lopez will be a state-of-the-art indoor facility with two pools; one super-heated for aqua therapy and learn-to-swim lessons and the other a 75-foot recreational pool for lap swimming, water aerobics and family swim. County residents of all ages and abilities will benefit from year-round programming designed to bring them greater health, water safety and connection to their community.
Closer to home, SJC Council Members Jamie Stephens, Rick Hughes and Bill Watson are actively pursuing ideas for county investment in the swim center. While the County Council has already shown its support for the pool project, an investment by the county would pave the way for more funding from the state level. Additionally, a growing number of local organizations have come forward to formally state their support for the project. They see the benefits of a community swim center aligning with their organization’s values and goals. For a list or to add support for your organization, please visit our website, listed below.
FLIP is grateful for the support and enthusiasm received from the San Juan County community. Whether you have written a letter, voiced your support, donated money to the project or simply said you want to swim, you have made an impact. Today, we celebrate this wonderful news with YOU because together, we are making sure that the San Juan Islands will swim!
For more information please go to www.lopezislandpool.org.
