White Center Now: The blog about White Center

The announcement and photo are from Evergreen Aquatic Center:

In an area surrounded by water, it is imperative that we teach our children to swim. In 2015, the CDC stated that drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States. Each and every day, approximately ten people in the U.S. die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger.

The Evergreen Pool has been a beacon of hope for so many underserved children and families in our area. Since 2010, we have taught more than 16,400 kids to swim. Most of the kids in our area cannot afford to pay for swim lessons, so we have been working very hard to find ways to help offset this cost.

This year, the White Center/Burien Community owes a huge debt of gratitude to Amerigroup Washington. The Evergreen Aquatic Center is the humble recipient of their $5,000 sponsorship; expressly for the reduced-cost swim lessons program for our community members. This funding will help us provide more swimming lessons to children in our community. While learning to swim, these children will also gain another critical lifelong goal – the benefit of physical fitness. This increased physical activity will help our kids achieve healthier outcomes and build healthy, lifelong habits that can be passed down to future generations.

Amerigroup Washington has been serving our state since 2012, and currently coordinates Medicaid and Medicare benefits for approximately 190,000 residents across the entire state, most being low-income families with children. Amerigroup has made it their mission to improve lives and communities, while making healthcare simpler. Their recent sponsorship is a demonstration of their ongoing commitment to the White Center/Burien Community, as it follows multiple investments made to our community over the past few years ($7,000 in 2016, $5,000 in 2017 and $5,000 in 2019).

The Evergreen Aquatic Center is honored to be a benefactor of Amerigroup’s ongoing support and applauds their commitment and efforts to help our kids stay safe and live healthier lives.

$200,000 for new field lighting at Evergreen High School and $6,500 for improvements at Evergreen Pool are among grants announced by the county today. Here’s the news release:

Grant funding announced today by King County Executive Dow Constantine will provide opportunities for improving the health of youth sports groups throughout the county who lack access to recreational activities and programs.

Recipients of the 2019 King County Youth and Amateur Sports Grants will share $2.4 million in funding that can mean the critical difference between whether financially disadvantaged residents can participate in organized sports and other recreational activities.

“A big part of making King County a place where every person can thrive is providing access to opportunities – and that includes the chance to play on teams, join programs, or participate in outdoor fun,” Executive Constantine said. “With the grant funding I am announcing today, we are helping youth and adults overcome financial, transportation, and other barriers so that more King County residents can participate in activities and programs that improve quality of life across our county.”

King County Parks administers the Youth and Amateur Sports program and offers new grants each year. The next round of grants is expected to open January 2020.

The full list of grant awardees can be found on the King County Youth and Amateur Sports Grants website.

The program is funded and sustained through a 1 percent car-rental tax authorized by the Legislature in 1993. Funds can only be used for programs or capital projects that increase access to health-enhancing physical activities.

Eight years after King County closed what was then Evergreen Pool — which was rescued by a community nonprofit months later – the county is pitching in to help with some updates.

County Council chair Joe McDermott, who represents White Center, West Seattle, and vicinity on the council, joined Evergreen Aquatic Center’s Bryan Hastings and Paloma Duarte at the pool this afternoon to officially announce a $61,000 county grant. Here’s what they all had to say:

The money is from the county’s Youth and Amateur Sports Fund. Hastings says the money will help with badly needed mechanical updates to not only the pool’s mechanical infrastructure but also to its shower system – which is also serving homeless people who need access to showers, including guests at the White Center shelter operated by Mary’s Place. Hastings says the system improvements will extend the pool’s life by decades.

Haven’t been to the pool? 606 SW 116th in south White Center. Find schedule and lesson info on its website.

(White Center Now photo by Patrick Sand)

That was the happy scene at Evergreen Community Aquatic Center on Thursday afternoon, as Amerigroup Washington reps formalized a $5,000 donation. The money will help pay for families experiencing homelessness to continue using the showers there, and to use the pool for swimming lessons and open- and family-swim sessions. Earlier this week, we mentioned the shower usage as part of our followup on the Mary’s Place-operated shelter in White Center, and that organization is a partner in this project, along with Neighborhood House. The announcement explains:

… This effort began when all four organizations gathered to explore the possibility of using the pool showers as a temporary showering facility for residents at each homeless shelter. Many of these families do not have showering facilities and the new Mary’s Place Family Center shelter in White Center only has one shower available, while two others are being added. Upon further discussions, the opportunity to increase access to swimming and water safety lessons also came about as part of this partnership. …

This money will support the support staff, issuing of towels and a voucher system to allow these residents to come to the pool with a user pass during regular operating hours to use the facilities. This sponsorship can also will support over 150 full session swimming lessons (8 classes per session) and /or full use of the family swim and open swim times at the pool.

Bryan Hastings from Evergreen Community Aquatic Center says April Pool’s Day this past Saturday brought “a fantastic showing”: About 100 kids! The day included a special check presentation for a grant that will make water-safety learning affordable for even more – he shared the photo and the official news release:

Every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning, according to
the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning
ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States. On April Pool’s
Day, State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, joined Amerigroup Washington as they presented a $7,000 check to Evergreen Community Aquatic Center to increase the number of swimming lessons for about 1,500 underserved children in the Puget Sound area.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support and partnership of Amerigroup Washington, because without their support Evergreen Community Aquatic Center would not be able to impact so many underserved kids and teens this year,” said Bryan Hastings, White Water Aquatics Management Board President. “With this grant, we hope to continue to provide much needed swimming instruction and water safety programming to kids who need it most.”

As summer approaches, the number of local youth visiting a local pool or (body of water) will also increase.

Thanks to the donation from Amerigroup Washington, Evergreen Community Aquatic Center will be able
to provide life-saving instruction for more children across King County. Swimming lessons empower
youth to be well prepared for emergency water situations. The swimming instruction provided at the
Center also provides training on how to properly wear a life jacket and teaches each participant with
rescue skills that will enable them to swim their way to safety should they experience an unexpected

“Swimming enables kids and teens to stay active and physically fit. That’s why we support Evergreen
Community Aquatic Center, to help ensure that our youth build life-long healthy habits with a strong
understanding in water-safety,” said Daryl Edmonds, president of Amerigroup Washington. “The
Evergreen Community Aquatic Center is working to build secure futures for our local youth by helping
them stay safe while participating in healthy water activities.”

State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon attended the April Pool’s Day event, where Evergreen
Community Aquatic Center and Amerigroup Washington celebrated the joy of swim by providing water
safety activities and free swim time for local families and community members. The Center raffled off
free life jackets, free swimming lessons and other door prizes.

For more information about water safety and how you, or someone you know, can sign up for reduced-
priced swimming lessons, call (206) 588-2297.

Just announced:

One week from Saturday – see you there!

We’ve reported on the financial crisis faced by White Center’s Evergreen Pool, saved by the community once and in need of rescue again – now, it’s been saved, supporters just announced:

The non-profit Evergreen Pool, which serves the greater Highline area, which had been threatened with closure, will remain open thanks to a combination of community and government support.

During December the volunteer community group that manages the pool successfully raised over $15,000 from the public, obtained a grant for reducing energy costs from King County Parks, and entered into a contract with the City of Burien to provide services to low-income residents there.

“We are so grateful to the community and our leaders who recognize the need for an aquatic facility in White Center and for coming together to help us continue our mission of teaching swimming and promoting fitness in the Highline area,” said Evergreen Community Aquatics Center Board President, Bryan Hastings.

“In particular we would like to thank King County Executive Dow Constantine and Burien’s newly elected Mayor Lucy Krakowiak for sharing our vision,” said Hastings. In addition there were many private donors, mostly giving less than $100, who helped reach the fundraising goal.

More than 3,800 children – and adults – have learned to swim at the Evergreen Pool since it reopened under new management three years ago. The pool is home to several swim teams – Whitewater Aquatics, Highline High School, Evergreen High School and Blue Wave Masters, as well as dozens of community groups.

To celebrate the continued operation of the pool, a free family swim pass is being offered with each lesson program sign up. More information can be found at www.EvergreenPool.org.

From Kami, who is helping with the campaign to keep Evergreen Pool open:

PLEASE SAVE EVERGREEN BY TAKING SWIM LESSONS!

Evergreen could close if the community doesn’t start using it. This local nonprofit indoor aquatic center offers great swim lessons at competitive prices, lap swimming, and public swim. Please check out the website at www.evergreenpool.org for more information.

Current Promotion:
If you sign up for swim lessons starting January 6th, the registered swimmer and one adult may attend any of our public swim sessions in January for FREE! Please check our website or swing on by.

Let’s come together to save this valuable community resource. TOGETHER LET’S SAVE EVERGREEN!

Just announced:

Evergreen Pool in White Center wants to throw a party for the community – while raising a little fun for area children it will also collect toys and food for the less fortunate in the area.

Just bring an unwrapped toy, or food donation for White Center Food Bank and join in fun at Evergreen Pool from 3 pm-6 pm on December 21st. Lifeguards are on hand to watch swimmers who are still learning to swim; parents are encouraged to stay and enjoy the fun with their kids.

The White Center pool faces a Jan. 15 deadline to raise $15,000 to keep the facility open, and the fund drive is proceeding well, “ yet, we just felt we needed to have an event to celebrate the facility, our community and help bring holiday cheer to the area”, said WhiteWater Aquatics General Manager Joel Schweiger.

More than 3,800 children – and adults – have learned to swim at the Evergreen pool in White Center since it reopened under the new nonprofit management three years ago. It serves the greater Highline area, with 56 percent of the children who swim there coming from Burien.

Tax deductible donations can be made online via evergreenpool.org

Evergreen Pool is “on the brink” of closure and needs community help, according to this announcement of a new fundraising drive:

A “Parents’ Night Off” swimming fundraiser the day after Thanksgiving is kicking off a major fundraising drive to keep the non-profit Evergreen Pool in White Center open.

For a $30 donation parents can drop off kids this Friday, Nov. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m., and then go shopping or on a date.

More than 3,800 children – and adults – have learned to swim at the Evergreen Community Aquatics Center pool since it reopened under new management three years ago.

“That includes a good number of kids who are served by a good swimming program in a community with limited youth recreation opportunities,” notes General Manager Joel Schweiger.

This 44-year-old facility, long managed by King County, has been operated “pretty close to breaking even for three years” by the WhiteWater Aquatics Management, Schweiger says.

But “pretty close” doesn’t balance the ledger – especially those utility and related costs necessary for operating the aquatics center that were unavoidably higher from the time the pool reopened until energy improvements could be made.

These improvements are making a significant positive difference. Energy costs have been reduced by 40 percent with the grant-funded purchase of a new boiler and a pool blanket to cover to cover the water and maintain temperature when the facility is closed.

In addition, new filters paid for with another grant and recently installed are reducing chemical purchases by 15 percent.

Still, $15,000 in outstanding utility billings and related expenses, most incurred before these upgrades were made, and have put the Evergreen pool on the brink again.

And if funds are not raised to pay these debts by mid-January the aquatic center will have to close – despite the fact it is busy almost all the time. Schweiger says the pool is filled to capacity when kids are out of school.

“The reality is that the pool’s costs of operating exceed revenue due to capacity, he adds. For example, kids who get free or reduced lunches at school also get swimming lessons free or at reduced cost.

“It’s important to find both immediate and long-term income to keep this pool open “because there’s not a lot of positive youth activities in White Center that are safe and fun.”

The non-profit group is continuing to work with King County, the City of Burien and the Highline School District to find resources as well as launching a corporate and personal giving campaign.

Just received from Evergreen Aquatic Center:
Everybody Swims! And Pay Only What You Can.

Kids can plunge into spring this year with quality swim instruction and water safety lessons at the Evergreen Community Aquatic Center in White Center.

Whitewater Aquatics Management will teach any child who wants to learn to swim and have fun safely in the water – regardless of their ability to pay – from April 17 through May 23.

A non-profit pool, ECAC and Whitewater Aquatics Management asks only that parents pay what they can afford, even if it’s nothing, for their kids to participate in this special community session.

And if you can pay and can also help other families who can’t, we thank you for your donation and the much needed assistance in giving more kids this springtime swimming opportunity.

Not only will the lessons help children enjoy swimming but will also aid in the prevention of drowning, the second leading cause of death in children.

While an eight-session lesson block usually costs $72, no one will be turned away because of cost.

But space is limited. To take advantage of the reduced rate, please sign up in person at Evergreen Community Aquatic Center on a weekday between 4:00 and 8 p.m. – as soon as you can to ensure your child’s space.

Lessons will take place twice a week, Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, between 4 and 6 p.m for 30 minutes per class.

Just got word from manager Joel Schweiger that the recent fire damage is repaired and the pool is open again at Evergreen Community Aquatic Center. They’re signing people up for swim lessons, too – more about that, here. Schweiger adds, “We also have lap swim, public and family swim hours available as well as senior programming and swim team.”

Received from Julie Dow on behalf of the former Evergreen Pool:

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.

We get this in e-mail every week – but it’s not worth anything unless we share. So from hereon out – at least for as long as White Center remains an unincorporated area! (though county legislation also tends to affect those in cities, too) – we’ll bring you “This Week at the County Council,” as e-mailed on Fridays, for the week starting the following Monday. Click ahead to read the latest edition – take note of the parks item on Tuesday: Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Two big events in White Center today:

*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).

More from last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council monthly meeting, this time a followup on the rally earlier this week at Evergreen Pool (on the eve of its indefinite shutdown, which began Tuesday):

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).