Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Port of Olympia Commission dived into The Evergreen State College pool issue by leading a discussion about the facility at a meeting earlier this week.
The meeting on Monday, May 18, included stakeholders from the college, community advocates and a swim club looking to keep the pool open in partnership with the college.
Before the discussion, Port Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada said while the port has no jurisdiction over the campus, the commission's interest lies in facilitating a transparent public conversation about a facility with regional significance.
“This will typically cost money and don't make money — and I'm going to recognize that up front,” Vasavada said. “But let's just all see if there's a path forward for those (people and groups) who are looking sustainably to move this pool forward.”
The 55-year-old swimming pool is facing closure in June so the college can address reductions in state funding, an issue compounded by immediate repairs that are required to keep the pool open.
During the meeting, participants discussed possible solutions, including the establishment of a public facilities district (PFD) as a funding mechanism and the creation of a nonprofit organization to assist efforts to preserve the pool.
Tumwater City Administrator Paul Simmons talked about establishing a PFD as a long-term funding solution for a regional public pool.
A PFD is a municipal corporation authorized to construct, own and operate regional public facilities. Under Washington state law, a PFD functions as an independent taxing district, allowing it to levy specific taxes or propose voter-approved funding mechanisms to finance projects.
Simmons noted there have been unsuccessful attempts in the county to fund a public pool, including a failed Olympia ballot measure in the 1980s, a failed Tumwater bond measure in the 1990s, and the creation of the Capital Area Regional Public Facilities District in 2003.
While a public pool was part of early discussions for the Capital Area PFD, the project was later sidelined in favor of funding the Hands On Children's Museum and Regional Athletic Complex.
Simmons also talked about a feasibility study for a regional aquatics facility, which he led from 2020 to 2022 when he was the director of Olympia’s Parks, Arts & Recreation Department.
He said the study resulted in an initial design for a regional aquatics facility and was poised to move forward through the creation of a PFD, an effort that stalled due to competing priorities in Olympia.
To advance both efforts, Simmons proposed forming a committee of elected officials and parks staff. The committee would have two goals: to advance a second PFD in the county and to move forward with designs for a regional public pool. He noted the earlier design must be reevaluated to accommodate competitive elements, as it was only developed for recreational swimming.
Community advocates also joined the meeting to talk about their vision for the future of the pool.
Joellen Wilhelmn, an Evergreen alumnus and a former member of the Olympia School District Board of Directors, said stakeholders are actively working to form a nonprofit organization that would allow them to work with government agencies, raise funds and enter contracts.
“I think the important nugget that needs to be shared is that we worked with a bunch of stakeholders, and we've come to a place where we have a path forward,” Wilhelmn said. “We want to have people work together so we can get there.”
A key partner would be King Aquatic Club, a statewide swim club operator.
Owner Elizabeth Yen said the swim club is looking to collaborate with Evergreen by introducing youth competitive teams, children's swim lessons and a senior masters program.
Yen also talked about revenue-generating models, including a fee structure tied to lane usage and active swimmer volume, alongside rental fees from local schools, independent teams and community classes.
Olympia High School head swim coach Henry Valz said he recently presented a pro forma financial model to partners demonstrating that operating the public pool could be done sustainably. He said a grant proposal is being readied for the Washington State Department of Commerce. The proposal is due next week.
On top of immediate mandatory repairs, keeping the pool open would have to address other repairs and operating expenses, according to William Ward, the chief administrative officer of The Evergreen State College.
He cited a 2019 study by in-house engineers that estimated nearly $1 million to replace various components of the pool.
An earlier 2014 third-party study also estimated more than $1 million to renovate the pool, in addition to $2.7 million to convert the pool to a saline system.
Annual operating costs stand at $250,000 to cover heating, ventilation, cleaning and other essential utilities, but exclude the expense of lifeguards and aquatics programming.
13 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
chrispc2u
Evergreen college faculty and students are so enabling and sympathetic to homeless bum situation in Olympia maybe they should convert the pool to indoor housing for their beloved permanently residing bums. Haven’t we had enough wet greeners by now anyway??
Thursday, May 21 Report this
36098501
What am I missing? The Port of Olympia is leading discussion about the future of the Evergreen State College Pool?
Huh.
Thursday, May 21 Report this
Olyrkrgrrl
Interesting! It sounds like there is a good possibility that we might get a community pool after all, and it may end up being the Evergreen pool. That would be nice, I hope it works out. Thanks, Port of Olympia, for hosting the discussion on this pool, making it possible for us all to hear what is actually going on, and what the possibilities may be.
Friday, May 22 Report this
Chris_R
Quite a pointless discussion for the Port to have, but at least it districts Jasmine Vasavada from her ferry pet project. Now, how about doing something from a safety and security standpoint at the parking lot just north of the boat launch; evenings are getting out of hand with the youngsters racing around on dirt bikes and causing mayhem.
Friday, May 22 Report this
wolfmanner
Close EverRed , It's nothing but a Communist training center.
Friday, May 22 Report this
wellnow77
Try Evergreen, you naysayers. You know not what you are spouting.
Friday, May 22 Report this
Person of Interest
The Port Commission must have all its homework done to be off the reservation with hosting a pool discussion. They need to distract from the fact that none of their projects have gotten off the ground so go bother the administrators of the school who are working hard on the schools financials. Another Port distraction.
Friday, May 22 Report this
Virge13
A community pool is an asset for everyone. It’s so weird that some people want to mothball this project because it’s at EVERGREEN?! It’s not political folks, we need a community pool, one is available if maintenance issues are solved. It happens to be at Evergreen so OH NO!!!! Not that bastion of pinko commie leftist liberal learning!!!! Get your heads out of your Morons Are Governing America butts and be more civic minded.
Friday, May 22 Report this
KEW100
Increasing interaction between Evergreen and the wider Olympia community is a plus. I want more from Evergreen for the community generally. The pool is a good start.
Friday, May 22 Report this
Boatyarddog
OH that IS funny this statement "This will typically cost money and don't make money — and I'm going to recognize that up front,” Vasavada said. THIS is exactly what this ports financial ploy is. Don't make money .. Just build and lose money on Crap. Now this Port wants to look good.. but its history is clear. CLOSE THE MARINE TERMINAL its a money losing Business.
Friday, May 22 Report this
Wesley
This is a good lesson for the kids: You can't always get what you want, and it's immoral to use the tip of the government sword to force people to give you what you want.
Friday, May 22 Report this
HappyOlympian
Folks who do not know how to swim drown at a significantly lower rate than those who can swim; hey do not get in water above their heads, where as people who know how to swim often over-estimate their skills and die as a result. The signs the folks have in the photo a lie.
Sunday, May 24 Report this
Positivity
I would support a community pool (and maybe even a pool complex for more flexibility) but I would NOT support adding yet another taxing district or additional sales taxes to pay for it on top of all the taxes already being paid to multiple jurisdictions and their extra taxing districts (parks, transportation, etc.). All the jurisdictions need to contribute an equitable amount to the project, all its future operation and maintenance expenses, and its governance USING FUNDS AND ADVISORY BOARDS THEY ALREADY HAVE. Maybe that means delaying already scheduled projects or spreading their implementation out over a longer period of time so that citizens get everything they want including a pool. Not everything is the #1 priority right this minute. By the way, is a community pool or pool complex (my preference) in any of the jurisdiction's Comprehensive Plans? Also, is there a plan in place which specifies how the facility would be both managed and funded in the long run. Knee jerk reactions to each new "emergency" is not the way to have or run such a facility.
Monday, May 25 Report this