The impact of investments from the King County Parks Levy extends far beyond parks and regional trails—those funds also support and enhance community pools and aquatic centers across the county.
Throughout its duration, the voter-approved 2020-2025 Parks Levy has granted $34 million to aquatic centers across King County. The King County Parks Levy has generated a combined $88 million in grant funding over the past 6 years, helping cities, schools, and nonprofit organizations create and expand programs that keep communities healthy and connected. This year, Executive Shannon Braddock announced $16 million for upgrades and improvements among nine aquatic facilities, one of them being the Evergreen Aquatic Center in White Center.
Community-Building at Evergreen
As one of the only public pools in the area, Evergreen is an essential community recreation hub. Evergreen offers extensive programming at the pool, from competitive swim teams to beginner lessons and lifeguard courses. In partnership with King County, Evergreen’s swim lesson program offers full and partial scholarships, providing families equitable access to life-saving swim lessons that contribute to the County’s comprehensive water safety efforts.
Evergreen Manager Nicole Lamsen said Parks Levy funding has been essential to the Aquatic Center’s programming that lies at the heart of their organization, and investments help keep Evergreen’s major systems both operational and efficient.
“None of our community programming would be possible if we had a building that couldn’t keep up with us,” Nicole said. “With the programming that we do, it is so important that our capital projects meet us where we’re at and continue to support us in that way.”
Parks Levy support has resulted in major improvements at Evergreen that enhance safety, improve user experience, and increase resource efficiency at the pool, which is owned by Highline Public Schools and operated by Whitewater Aquatics Management.
Captial Projects Supported by King County Grants
Constructed in 1970, Evergreen Pool’s structure and technology has been tested over time. With Evergreen hosting large rentals and countless activities such as public swim sessions and water exercise, repairs in recent years have proved to be crucial.
From upgraded filtration and boiler systems that clean and heat the pool’s water, to energy efficient improvements that reduce energy use while making the facility more comfortable, King County Aquatic Facility Grants are an important support to Evergreen Aquatic Center’s ongoing operations.
Nicole said King County funding has helped staff address underfunded capital projects that impact the aquatic center’s ability to engage with their surrounding community.
King County Parks awarded Evergreen Aquatic Center a $765,000 Parks Levy grant this year to replace its aging HVAC system and install a dehumidifier. Nicole said the current system can’t control the pool building’s temperature, especially on warm days, causing higher temperatures and humidity. The improvements will greatly increase comfort for pool users, lifeguards, and spectators.
In 2022, Parks Levy grants funded the replacement of the pool’s degraded gutter system, promoting sustainability by reducing water loss from gutters by 57% and making system servicing easier. Grant funding to install a new pool liner kept Evergreen in line with Public Health regulations.
Accessibility is also central to Evergreen Aquatic Center’s community-driven mission through the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Administration, including sanctioned swim lessons and accessibility equipment such as a chair lift.
Nicole said she views swimming and the space to learn and improve as everyone’s right at Evergreen and beyond. Collaborations with King County through the Parks Levy empower aquatic centers to protect and expand these opportunities, while keeping pools open and functioning for the next generation of swimmers.
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