A major Olympia-area pool is closing. There’s a petition to keep it open
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Pool set to close end of June; operating costs about $250K/year.
- College cites $60K immediate repairs and at least $1M more needed.
- The college is also restructuring its bookstore
The Evergreen State College in Olympia, which is facing a projected budget deficit in its coming fiscal year, has taken two preliminary steps to address the shortfall, including the decision to close its swimming pool this summer.
The pool currently is open, but it’s set to close at the end of June, said college officials who toured the facility on Wednesday. The college announced its decision via a message released by interim Chief Financial Officer John Reed.
The college is facing a budget deficit of between $2.7 million and $4.1 million because of higher operating costs and lower revenue, although the college will know more about its fiscal situation once the current legislative session wraps on March 12, said college spokesman Nick Ocheltree.
“The pool has served our campus and the broader community for decades, and we recognize the important role it has played as a place for wellness and connection,” said Reed in his message posted on the college’s website. “However, it carries significant ongoing operating and infrastructure costs. Recently, the Washington state Department of Health notified the college that the campus pool requires approximately $60,000 in immediate repairs in order to meet current health and safety standards.”
That isn’t the only cost, said Chief Administrative Officer William Ward, who was at the pool on Wednesday. The operating costs of the pool are about $250,000 a year, he said, plus it needs more repairs on top of the $1 million the college spent in recent years to repair the pool building’s exterior.
The college at the time had sought $5 million from the state for pool repairs, but received only $1 million, he said.
“So we got the million dollars, and we used it as best we could,” said Ward. “But at the end of the day, the pump systems, mechanical systems, the feed systems, everything; I mean, they need work. They need extensive work. So we go here every day, do our inspections, make sure everything is safe, but the reliability of when this is going to fail, we have no clue.”
Ceiling grids need to be replaced, too. At a minimum, the pool needs another $1 million in repair, he said.
“The school has gone above and beyond to keep it open and to find a financial solution,” Ward added.
Community response
In addition to the public, the pool also was used by area swim teams, including those associated with Olympia schools. Concerned parents have emailed The Olympian about the situation and some have created an online petition to keep the pool open. As of late Wednesday, it had received about 3,000 signatures.
“The entire aquatic community in Thurston, Lewis, and Mason counties revolves around the Evergreen State College pool, and we NEED it to stay open!” the petition reads. “This facility is not just a pool; it’s a vital part of our community fabric, offering a safe, healthy environment for everyone, from competitive swimmers, to water aerobics enthusiasts, to families learning to swim together. The pool is where lifelong skills are developed, friendships are forged, and countless memories are made.”
The Olympian reached out to the Olympia School District and received this reply:
“The Olympia School District is aware of the planned pool closure at The Evergreen State College in the coming months,” spokesman Conor Schober said in an email. “Both Capital High School and Olympia High School currently use that facility for their swim programs.
“At this time, the district is in the early stages of exploring possible options for the 2026–27 school year. Those conversations are ongoing, and no decisions have been made.”
North Thurston Public Schools’ three high schools — North Thurston, Timberline and River Ridge — each have a swimming pool.
North Thurston spokeswoman Amy Blondin said Wednesday the district has not heard from Olympia schools about any future requests, but it wouldn’t be unusual because other school districts have used their pools before, she said.
What are the other swimming pool options in the area? In addition to the North Thurston pools, the Briggs YMCA on Yelm Highway has a pool, plus there’s a west Olympia business called Discover Aquatics. There’s also a community pool in Tanglewilde near Lacey, although it’s outdoors and open only in the summer.
“Obviously, it’s very disappointing,” said spokesman Ocheltree about the Evergreen pool. “We don’t want to have to close it, but this is what’s going to keep us financially solvent and reliable as a state institution.”
Changes coming to college bookstore
The other budgetary move announced by the college is to restructure the campus bookstore. The space will remain open to sell Evergreen apparel, gifts, art, supply kits and other campus merchandise, but the store will discontinue sales of on-site textbooks.
“We will partner with a third-party course materials provider to manage textbook sales and distribution,” said Reed in his message. “Students will continue to have access to new, used, rental, and digital formats, with the convenience of home delivery or pickup at the bookstore, and the Copy Center will continue to service faculty, staff, and community needs as usual within the store operations.
“Maintaining physical book inventory on-site requires storage, staffing, and supply management costs that are no longer aligned with current demand,” said Reed. “Moving these operations to a third-party distributor reduces overhead while maintaining reliable access to required materials in whatever format works best for individual students.”
However, those changes will result in four layoffs, spokesman Ocheltree said.
“We understand that the pool and bookstore are part of the fabric of campus life,” Reed said. “But our foremost responsibility is to protect Evergreen’s core mission: delivering an exceptional academic experience, supporting student success, and ensuring the institution’s long-term sustainability.”
Want to swim at the pool before it closes? You can find the pool operating times on the Evergreen website.
