Six months ago, The Highline School District reached agreement with a community group to operate a closed pool in White Center, which was renamed The Evergreen Community Aquatics Center (ECAC). Since that time, hundreds of subsidized swim lessons have been attended by area youth, and dozens of adult and seniors have attended exercise classes. Now (that the pool is) home to The Highline Pirates, Evergreen/Tyee Swim and WhiteWater Aquatic Swim Teams, scores of area youth are swimming daily, along with community outreach programs. Indeed, it’s a very busy place at Evergreen Community Aquatics Center every weekday. The flags of sixteen nations hang over the pool, to honor the diversity of clientele and the many parts of the world that pool users are from.

“We are impacting the community of White Center with a positive, inclusive activity. While childhood obesity is at a national high, we are making strides every day with children and families that thought they could never swim”, said Joel Schweiger, General Manager of ECAC and Head Coach of WhiteWater Aquatics. “Like other pools, we have our building and financial challenges, yet we can see daily the results swimming provides for White Center,” he added.

In addition to swim lessons and swim teams, The ECAC has partnered with community groups for outreach, including SHAG (The Senior Housing Assistance Group) and New Futures, a youth oriented integration and service organization.

As it looks to the future, ECAC is working to ensure that the entire community is informed of the offerings available at the center, by offering free trials. Those who sign up before October 31 for the November youth swim lesson session, receive a pass for a free “family” swim for a family of four.

Morning and evening shallow water exercise classes for adults have also been added to the schedule. Instructed by Aquarobics, water fitness and therapy experts, the new classes are offered every weekday. “Water aerobics classes are fun and offer a safe, effective and quality cardio workout.” says Carolyn Scott, Aquarobics Owner. There is also a water therapy class designed for those with severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, and pre & post surgery, “Water therapy is a great first step for those looking to get fitness back into their lives.” For programming and registration information call 425-894-0045. In November, Aquarobics is offering a FREE first class to all new swimmers!

Looking to the future, “We will have our challenges at Evergreen going forward with an old building and pools are expensive to operate, yet, it’s been a great start. We are really glad to be serving White Center,” concluded Schweiger.

Monday, June 7
Metropolitan King County Council – 11:00 a.m.
Councilmembers are scheduled to discuss and possibly act on:
· A motion authorizing the Council Chair to enter into a contract for an independent consultant to provide an assessment of the effectiveness of the Wastewater Treatment Divisions’ productivity initiative (Motion 2010-0302).

Councilmembers are scheduled to hear public testimony on:
· Executive’s proposed 2011 Sewer Rate and Capacity Charge (Ordinance 2010-0262). The public hearing will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 8
Environment and Transportation Committee – 9:30 a.m.
Briefing:
· Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program (Briefing No. 2010-B0112).

Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:
· An ordinance adopting the 2010 King County Open Space Plan: Parks, Trails and Natural Areas (Ordinance 2010-0270).

Discussion only:
· An ordinance relating to adopting the shoreline master program (Ordinance 2009-0609).
· An ordinance relating to comprehensive planning and permitting (Ordinance 2010-0163)

(WCN note: The agenda also includes the Evergreen Pool agreement – read the legislation here)

Law, Justice and Health and Human Services Committee – 1:30 p.m.
Briefings:
· Reorganization and Consolidation of King County Sheriff’s Office Operations (Briefing No. 2010-B0104).
· Update on Regional Jail Planning (Briefing No. 2010-B0116).

Budget and Fiscal Management Committee – 3:30 p.m. ***Special Meeting***
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the full council:
· Executive’s proposed 2011 Sewer Rate and Capacity Charge (Ordinance 2010-0262).
· Ordinances relating to the provision of regional animal care and control services (Ordinances 2010-0325, 2010-0326 and 2010-0327).

Environment and Transportation Committee – 6:30 p.m. ***Special Meeting Time***
Councilmembers are scheduled to hear public testimony on:
· An ordinance relating to adopting the shoreline master program (Ordinance 2009-0609).
· An ordinance relating to comprehensive planning and permitting (Ordinance 2010-0163).

For more information on the Shoreline Master Program and the King County Growth Management Comprehensive Plan, go to:
www.kingcounty.gov/council/issues/comprehensive_plan.aspx

Wednesday, June 9
Committee of the Whole – 9:30 a.m. ***Special Meeting Location*** Committee will meet in the Southwest Conference Room, 12th flr., King County Courthouse

Agenda TBA

King County Ferry District Executive Committee – 1:30 p.m. ***Special Meeting Location*** Committee will meet in the Southwest Conference Room, 12th flr., King County Courthouse
Committee members are scheduled to discuss and possibly recommend to the Ferry District Board of Supervisors:
· A resolution relating to cash management and approving the “King County Ferry District Cash Handling Policy.”

Regional Policy Committee – 3:00 p.m.
Briefings:
· Overview of State-Mandated County Service (Briefing No. 2010-B0114).
· Update on Animal Care and Control Services in King County (Briefing No. 2010-B0115).

Evergreen Community Aquatic Center is among the organizations/businesses/entities tabling at today’s Westwood Village Street Fair, close to the White Center/West Seattle line, so if you go to the street fair, drop by and say hi! The events are all happening in the Bed Bath Beyond/Pier 1 Imports parking lot, till 7 tonight. We’ve got a schedule of events and other highlights in our coverage on partner site West Seattle Blog.

With not just the snip of ceremonial scissors but also shouts of THANK YOU! – the former Evergreen Pool, closed 7 months ago, formally reopened at midday today as Evergreen Community Aquatic Center. King County Executive Dow Constantine was there to help, and he called the public/private endeavor to get it reopened “a shining example … of new partnerships” – here’s his speech:

Also speaking, with proud words at the end of a long, determined effort to make this happen, were WhiteWater Aquatics vice president Bryan Hastings and ECAC general manager “Coach” Joel Schweiger:

A free public swim followed the dedication. The pool’s schedule, as linked here a few weeks ago, can be found here.

*Evergreen Community Aquatic Center‘s official ribboncutting, with King County Executive Dow Constantine scheduled to be on hand, 10:30 am, followed by a free community swim till 1 pm. The pool – reopened thanks to the work of WhiteWater Aquatics and community support, after county budget cuts closed it last fall – is at 606 SW 116th (map)… West Seattle Montessori School and West Seattle Academy are raising money with a plant sale today, and you’ll find more than plants: Student performers, Master Gardener Q/A opportunities, even an espresso bar. 11215 15th SW (map), 9 am-2 pm, full details on the school website.

(WCN photo from August 2009, just before the former Evergreen Pool closed)
With two weeks to go till the grand opening, following eight months out of service, Evergreen Community Aquatic Center is getting a whole lot of TLC, according to Julie Dow, who tells WCN, “We are getting ready to open, we’ve been very busy painting, scrubbing and getting everything ready! We are celebrating our grand opening on May 1st with a FREE public swim from noon to 2 pm.” Julie says the new website at evergreenpool.org is almost ready to go – they’re still working on the component to allow online registration for swim lessons. The center’s getting phone and Internet service on Monday. If you just can’t wait and want to start planning, you can see the pool schedule here.

Almost seven months after that August 30th rally preceding the shutdown of Evergreen Pool, the official announcement just arrived in the inbox – there’s a deal to reopen it “on or before May 1st.” (The White Water Aquatics website says they’re targeting April 12th, with a 5/1 “grand opening.”) And it’ll have a slightly changed name. Here’s the news release:

Officials of White Water Aquatics Management, LLC, a not-for-profit subsidiary of an area swim team, today announce that they have reached an agreement to re-open Evergreen Community Aquatics Center (formerly Evergreen Pool) in White Center on or before May 1, 2010.

From the time King County closed the pool last summer, the parents of children who compete on the Whitewater Aquatics Swim Team have worked with The Highline School District and King County to develop an operating agreement. White Water Aquatics Management has developed a business plan to operate the pool with a full range of programming for diverse community needs, and has raised over $50,000 in private donations to get started.

“Swimming and water recreation offer lifelong health and safety benefits, and we are so pleased to be able to offer this programming to White Center and our community”, said Ed Marrs, president of Whitewater Aquatics, and a professional firefighter. “We would like to thank The Highline School Board, King County, Dow Constantine and dozens of Whitewater Swim Team Families who all worked tirelessly to ensure that we could open this pool. Our unique public-private partnership is an example of how citizens can mobilize and assist government in challenging times,” he continued.

With repairs underway, planning for a spring break scrub-and-paint marathon, lesson calendars and schedule planning in the works – as well an operating swim team preparing for several swim meets – , it’s a “hectic time at The Evergreen Community Aquatic Center, but we are truly excited to embark on this new venture,” said newly appointed pool manager, current WWA Head Coach Joel Schweiger. “We hope to release our calendar and start promoting spring swim lessons by April 5th.” Schweiger, an accomplished competitive swimmer, has managed several pools in California and has over fourteen years coaching experience up to the highest levels of the sport.

The pool’s at 606 SW 116th (map).

NHUAC president Greg Duff outlined the latest developments, including a recap of Monday’s rally, but with a new wrinkle – he says the county told WhiteWater Aquatics, which hopes to take over the pool and reopen it, that it needs $100,000 in reserves to make sure labor/utilities/other costs can be paid until it has a “positive cash flow.” Duff described WhiteWater’s bid as a unique situation, adding, “How can a nonprofit come up with $100,000?” He quoted WW’s Ed Marrs as summarizing, “It’s down to money … $100,000.” WhiteWater has filed LLC paperwork with the state but there still appears to be no chance the pool would reopen any sooner than January 1st, even if WW’s attempt is successful. There was some question of why the pool didn’t wind up in the annexation area; during the meeting, in his update on post-vote annexation matters (more on that later), Burien City Manager Mike Martin said his city would rather build a new pool than try to keep up a dated facility like Evergreen (one of many regionally built with “Forward Thrust” money more than three decades ago).