Lopez Will Receive $500,000 from State for Public Swim Center

— from Micki Ryan for Friends of Lopez Island Pool —

The Friends of Lopez Island Pool is thrilled to announce that the state supplemental capital budget, which passed on March 8, includes $500,000 for a Community Swim Center to be built on Lopez Island.

This State award brings the amount raised for construction to $1.85 million which is 50% of the estimated amount needed for the first phase of construction.  Another $1.85 million must still be raised in order to begin construction in which passed on March 8, includes $500,000 for a Community Swim Center to be built on Lopez Island.

This could not have happened without support from Senator Kevin Ranker and House Representatives Kristine Lytton and Jeff Morris. Locally, many calls were made and letters written by our partnership organizations and FLIP advisory members. The final budget passed unanimously in the Senate, passed the House 96-2 and awaits Governor Inslee’s signature.

San Juan County is actually one of only two counties in Washington state without a public pool. Although the swim center project was originally conceived by and for Lopez residents, it has become increasingly apparent that all San Juan County residents suffer from the lack of year round access to a community pool. The Swim Center on Lopez will be a state-of-the-art indoor facility with two pools; one super-heated for aqua therapy and learn-to-swim lessons and the other a 75 foot recreational pool for lap swimming. FLIP continues to pursue grants and lead donations.

Closer to home, SJC Council Members Jamie Stephens, Rick Hughes and Bill Watson are actively pursuing ideas for county investment in the swim center. While the County Council has already shown its support for the pool project, an investment by the county would pave the way for more funding from the state level.

Our growing list of partnership organizations includes Lopez Island Family Resource Center, Lopez Island School District, Lopez Island Academy, Lopez Island Fire and EMS, Lopez Island Physical Therapy, Lopez Island Prevention Coalition and Lopez Community Trails network. These organizations see the benefits of a community swim center aligning with their values and goals and have come forward to state their support for the project.

FLIP is grateful for the support and enthusiasm received from the San Juan County community. Whether you have written a letter, voiced your support, donated money to the project or simply said you want to swim, you have made an impact. Today, we celebrate this wonderful news because together, we are making sure that the San Juan Islands will swim!

For more information and to make a donation to help meet our construction timeline, please go to www.lopezislandpool.org.