Evergreen’s pool must be preserved to serve the people of Olympia | Opinion
Keeping the Evergreen State College pool open is essential to preserving a vital community resource, sustaining local athletic programs, and honoring the college’s role as a public institution committed to serving Thurston County.
The pool is far more than a place to swim; it is a shared asset that supports high school athletics, community health, regional aquatics development, and the long‑standing partnership between Evergreen and the surrounding communities. Closing it would create an immediate and damaging gap that no alternative facility can fill in the near term.
The pool plays a key role in supporting the local high school swim and dive programs. Olympia, Capital, Tumwater and Black Hills high schools all rely on Evergreen’s facility for practices and competitions. These programs collectively pay more than $70,000 annually for access, demonstrating both the demand for the facility and community partners’ willingness to contribute to its upkeep.
Without the Evergreen pool, these schools would face severe disruptions, including reduced practice time, increased travel burdens and the potential loss of much-needed athletic opportunities. For many student‑athletes, swimming is not only a sport but a pathway to college scholarships, personal development and community identity. Removing their primary training venue would undermine years of investment in youth athletics.
Beyond the schools, the pool serves a broader public purpose. Aquatic facilities support public health by providing low‑impact exercise options for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and residents recovering from injuries. Olympia and the surrounding communities have strong ties to the water, much like the Salish people.
With our strong connection to Puget Sound, we need a place where people can learn to swim and gain the skills to stay safe on the water. Evergreen offers swimming lessons that save lives, open swim hours that strengthen families, and training space for lifeguards who staff at beaches and pools across the region.
In a county already short on aquatic capacity, losing Evergreen’s pool would push demand onto the few remaining facilities, leading to overcrowding and reduced access for everyone. This begs the question, how can other aquatic centers like the Briggs YMCA and The Valley Athletic club effectively manage a pool, yet Evergreen State College which has contracts with local schools (and is the only 25-meter pool in the area), fails to fiscally manage this valuable resource.
The pattern of Evergreen closing community facing facilities, first the soccer fields, then the indoor pavilion and now the pool, raises legitimate concerns about the college’s commitment to its public mission. As a state‑funded institution, Evergreen has an obligation to steward its assets responsibly and to collaborate with the community it serves.
The shifting financial demands presented to local stakeholders from $60,000 in immediate repairs to $200,000 for the biennium, then $250,000 annually and suddenly $2 million create the appearance of inconsistent planning and erode trust. A transparent, stable, and realistic plan is necessary to restore confidence and ensure that decisions are made in good faith.
Closing the pool would also accelerate pressure for a costly regional aquatic center, a project that could exceed $100 million and take more than a decade to complete. During that time, thousands of swimmers, students, families, seniors and competitive athletes, would be left without adequate facilities. Maintaining the Evergreen pool is the most practical and cost‑effective way to prevent this gap while long‑term solutions are explored.
Keeping the Evergreen State College pool open is not merely a matter of preserving a building; it is about sustaining community partnerships, protecting youth opportunities and upholding the responsibilities of a public institution. A collaborative approach, whether through shared management, public‑private partnership or revised financial planning, can ensure the pool remains a vibrant and accessible resource for years to come.
More information is available on the Save the Evergreen State College Pool Facebook page.
Corey Gauny is an Olympia resident who moved back home in 2012 after 23 years as a firefighter in the Air Force. In 2016, he earned his MBA in innovation and technology management from PLU and is focused on efficiency and service as an active Rotarian.