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Residents urge Tumwater council to help save Evergreen State College pool after closure announcement
Summary
Two residents asked the council to help preserve the Evergreen State College aquatic facility after the college announced closure; speakers said the pool handles school swim teams, public lessons and rehabilitation and that a short-term funding ask of $175,000 was reported to keep it open while a permanent plan is developed.
Two residents urged the Tumwater City Council on March 17 to act to preserve the Evergreen State College pool after the college was reported to be closing the facility.
William Penn, who identified himself as a physician and longtime community volunteer, told the council the pool is the only walk-up public pool in Thurston County and is used by two high-school swim teams and community programs. He said advocates were told the pool needed $175,000 to remain open in the short term and urged the council to support an extension to allow a longer-term solution. "This community needs a pool for a lot of reasons," he said, listing swim lessons, competitive swimming and rehabilitation.
Henry (last name provided in the record as spoken) recalled advocating for a public pool decades ago and described the Evergreen pool as a "functional" facility that needs restoration rather than being discarded. He urged the council to consider regional or municipal options to keep the facility operating while a permanent solution is developed.
Mayor Lietta Dolloff and other councilmembers thanked the speakers and offered to share contact information and follow up. No formal council action or funding commitment was made at the meeting; speakers invited further conversation with city staff and council members.
The speakers gave a specific short-term funding figure they were told ($175,000) and reported community interest: a petition or sign-up that had drawn roughly 4,000 signatures in a recent two-week period, according to one speaker. Councilmembers asked to be kept informed and encouraged the speakers to continue conversations with staff.
