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).

We will be holding open tryouts for players looking for teams

4th, 5th, and 6th Grade
Tuesday March 9th – 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Thursday March 11th – 5:30 to 7:00pm

7th and 8th Grade
Tuesday March 9th – 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Thursday March 11th – 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Tryouts will be held at
Salvation Army CC
9020 16th ave SW
Seattle WA 98146

For more information contact Sean or Charles (206) 767-3150 ext 113

Thanks to Jim Clark for sharing photos of today’s cyclocross race at Lakewood Park, scheduled at the last minute after the permit was revoked in West Seattle. His gallery is here.

It’s Homecoming Time!

This Saturday, 1:30pm @ Highline Stadium, Evergreen High School celebrates Homecoming 2009 with the Homecoming Football game against the Mt. Si Wildcats.

All Alumni and friends of Evergreen High School are encouraged to come on out to support the team and meet up with old friends and make new ones.

EHS Booster club members will be around to serve Hot Chocolate and man the Alumni Registry; there will be EHS paraphernalia available for sale also.

The team’s coming off a win over Tyee last week. Good luck, EHS!

The 2009 season starts for the Wolverines this Friday night against Mt Rainier High School (the Rams), 7:00 pm @ Highline Stadium and we want to get the community out to support and cheer the team on for our first game.

And he also sent word about a fundraiser tomorrow with Millennium Ford of Burien. Here’s the official flyer. He explains:

For each person who comes for a 5 min. test drive, Ford will donate $20 to Evergreen High School to use for the football team. There will be EHS players and Cheerleaders on hand to sign folks up for test drives. sell EHS Football Gear and Gold Cards and promote the fund raiser. Head Coach Lewis, his coaching staff and I will be there to help out and answer questions about the EHS Football Program.

Their website’s also up and running at ehswolverinefootball.com. Go Wolverines!

EARLY SATURDAY UPDATE: Final score, Mount Rainier 44, Evergreen 0. Get out to the fundraiser today! Next week they play Kennedy – 1:30 pm Saturday 9/19 at Highline.

Young swimmers like those two were among the Evergreen Pool supporters who spoke eloquently and energetically Monday night at the rally on the eve of the pool’s closure, aimed at gaining attention and momentum to make sure the closure — which starts today — is not permanent. (Here’s our first report on the rally.) Young swimmers also were on the mind of Ed Marrs, a North Highline Fire District firefighter and board president for WhiteWater Aquatics, which hopes to take over pool operation if it can strike a deal with King County Parks and Highline Public Schools, who own the site and building respectively:

The pool is lifesaving in another way, declared one of its dedicated senior swimmers, Lucy:

But passion must be translated into action, reminded Greg Duff, president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

As noted in our earlier report, NHUAC has its regular monthly meeting this Thursday night, 7 pm at North Highline FD HQ (1243 SW 112th), and you can bet the pool’s future will be a hot topic.

Morning session is 9 – Noon
Afternoon session 1 – 4pm
at Evergreen High School fields, courts and gyms. We are offering football, basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball.

For athletes, would-be athletes and kids whose parents are looking for things for them to do: Ages 6 -14
The cost is $20, scholarships available.

Here’s the official flyer with full details.