Residents, coaches urge Kennewick council to pursue year‑round aquatics facility

Dozens of residents, swim coaches and local business owners urged the Kennewick City Council on Aug. 19 to prioritize a year‑round aquatics facility, citing public‑safety concerns, unmet demand for swim lessons and potential revenue from hosted swim meets.

Speakers said the city's current pool, open for limited summer months, cannot meet demand for learn‑to‑swim lessons, senior exercise programs or competitive meets. Several suggested city leaders explore combining an aquatic center with other revenue‑generating components to offset construction and operating costs.

Supporters argued that a year‑round facility would improve safety by expanding affordable lessons for children and other residents. "We do not have enough time where it is affordable for families to teach their children to swim," said Hillary Allman, a nurse and Kennewick resident, describing seeing drownings each summer she believes might have been preventable with broader swim access.

Proponents also described competitive and economic benefits. Randy Willis, a local resident with experience organizing swim meets, said an expanded facility could host frequent invitationals and district championships, bringing thousands of athletes and family members to the city. "These numbers are not 'we might be able to get'—we can bid on them," Willis said, citing estimates that large meets could draw about 3,600 athletes and roughly 10,000 visitors over multiple events.

Coaches emphasized current program limits. Trina Lisa Tippett, a longtime Kennewick resident and head swim coach, said summer programming reached about 800 people this year but that two months of seasonal offerings cannot serve the city's estimated 25,000 youth. "Two months can't serve a community this size," she said.

Other speakers described safety and equipment concerns at the existing pool. Mike Sandbeck, a dive coach, said diving boards and their foundations are deteriorating and represent a liability that requires attention.

Several speakers urged council to consider facility designs that include revenue streams. Warren Hughes, a downtown business owner, compared a proposed indoor pool's estimated cost to a separate City Hall project, noting consultants had estimated a $25 million price for a full aquatic facility; Hughes suggested the council weigh revenue potential when deciding how to invest public funds.

Council members did not take formal action on the pool during the meeting; the comments were part of the visitor comment period. Council members acknowledged the remarks and flagged the item as part of ongoing capital and recreation conversations.

The public comment period closed after a half‑hour of remarks and the council proceeded to its scheduled business.