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Parks staff report rebound in swim lessons and new tracking system to speed swimmer advancement
Summary
Recreation supervisor Scott Carter told the board the aquatics program has expanded lesson offerings from 924 in 2023 to 1,570 in 2025, introduced swimmer skill tracking and report cards that helped advance more students into higher levels, and is preparing for increased school district use as Evergreen Pools plans closure.
Scott Carter, recreation supervisor, briefed the board on efforts to rebuild the aquatics program toward pre‑COVID capacity. Carter described operational steps—implementing a live pool calendar shared with North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS), tightening the instructor cancellation policy, tracking individual swimmer skills with report cards, and diversifying lesson offerings to include parent‑child, teen and adult lessons.
Carter reported swim‑lesson registration numbers of 924 in 2023 and 1,570 lessons offered in 2025 and said staff expect to break 2,000 in 2026. Tracking and report cards helped move 11 swimmers into level four in his first year, 76 the next year, and the program is on pace to move more than 100 this year. Carter described equipment and pool‑condition challenges that have caused intermittent closures (heater and pump failures) and said Evergreen Pools is planning to close, which could increase district demand for city pools and reduce available community programming during school swim seasons.
Board members asked about scheduling, fee revenue for pool rentals and whether districts would pay for pool time; staff said districts would use city pools and pay fees under existing agreements. Carter said the department is planning staff training, returning Riveridge pool to lesson service this summer, and continuing to manage cancellations and staffing needs.
This item was provided for information; there was no formal board action.
