Thursday, October 1, 2026
A grassroots campaign to save The Evergreen State College pool from closing has gathered more than 3,800 signatures on a petition that urges the Olympia City Council to develop a restoration plan.
Olympia High School swim coach Henry Valz said about 2,500 of the petition signatures come from Olympia and Tumwater residents.
“We understand that operational costs are a challenge, but closing the pool is not the solution,” the petition states.
Supporters are proposing that Evergreen explores alternative revenue streams, such as increasing membership fees, hosting regular aquatic events, and seeking partnerships or sponsorships from local businesses and organizations.
Studies have shown that community pools can become sustainable through strategic marketing and fundraising efforts.
“This pool is used for lessons for the Washington State Senior Games, six high school swim teams, local law enforcement and fire departments,” said Valz during the public comment period at a city council meeting on March 17.
He said the community used the pool for water polo, dive clubs, scuba diving clubs, swimming, and collegiate swimming.
Valz said they are still planning to use it for a swim and dive camp to teach swimming lessons to more than 200 students.
Valz emphasized that the Evergreen's community recreation center — the Constantino Recreation Center (CRC) — is considered a part of the community asset.
“The CRC at Evergreen has so many things the community desperately needs — meeting spaces, gyms, map rooms, locker rooms, racquetball courts, weight rooms, climbing walls and the pool," he said.
Valz asked council members to meet with the aquatics community, tour the Evergreen pool with them, and compare it to the Briggs YMCA, which he said has become severely overutilized and damaged because of its overuse.
“Let’s sit down. Let’s talk. Let’s plan,” Valz said. “This facility is a piece of art, and it is an invaluable resource.”
He added that the goal is restoration and not replacement. No formal commitment to a tour or specific restoration emerged during the meeting.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
ClimateTeam
Let's face reality. If you want a pool, you are going to have to pay for it. Why don't all these people who signed the petition work on raising money instead. This is purely an economic problem. Evergreen didn't want to close the pool, they had to due to budget cuts. The community should find ways to raise money for this worthwhile project.
Monday, March 23 Report this
OlyMamaLlama
Allegedly four city managers toured the facility and "did not want it," whatever that means. The operation costs aren't the issue, it's the repairs which are probably in the millions. It needs significant investment and it's going to take buy-in from multiple stakeholders to save it.
Monday, March 23 Report this
WildwoodIte
It’s shocking that the Oly School District is allowing one of its employees to speak on behalf of the district on this topic in such a naive and unprofessional manner. The OSH swim coach may be great at coaching swimming but is WAY outside his lane commenting on pool facilities, capital budgets, or the condition of facilities he has no connection to. This individual is doing far more harm then help to advance any conversation on solving our area pool shortage.
Tuesday, March 24 Report this
dlg2022
Kudos to Henry Valz for his efforts to SAVE THE POOL! I It is admirable that he is advocating for his kids and our community. I look forward to our state college joining hands with its wider community (who pay taxes to the state) in order to keep this excellent facility open. Swimming is for community health and safety at all ages. Swimming lessons save lives and open up recreation opportunities galore in our water-rich area of lakes and Puget Sound. Drownings are preventable and tragic. Swim teams involve hundreds of teens with an activity that promotes leadership and positive development., There is no other comparable facility in town that could serve so many aquatic functions. Despite enthusiasm and discussion for a county aquatic center, that dream is decades away if feasible at all. Keeping this pool open will require collaboration of the many stakeholders (city, county, the college itself, the school district, and more) not solvable by a fundraiser alone. Let's all support this effort! Debra L. Glasser, MD internal medicine physician, swimmer, former swim instructor and lifeguard.
Wednesday, March 25 Report this