With the King County closure of Evergreen Pool in White Center, Mount Rainier Pool has become the last pool standing in the Highline School District, and its future is far from certain.

Evergreen's swim team has begun practicing at Foster High School, while Tyee, Highline and Mount Rainier High Schools are using the Mount Rainier Pool.

Thousands of people use the pool every week, Mount Rainier Pool Manager Ken Spencer said.

"You walk in there and you might see 80 people in the water and 50 people in the stands, but that is going on for hours every day," Spencer said.

The pool, which is badly in need of a renovation, will need about $2.5 million in capital repairs, Spencer said. "It is nearing the end of its operational life."

Spencer said the biggest problem is not money to operate the pool, but capital expenses to remodel it.

The pool costs $90,000 a year to operate

That is nearly half as much as it cost to run before the Aquatic Management Group (AMG) took over managing it five years ago.

Des Moines and Normandy Park both have resolutions on the ballot in the upcoming election to raise money for the pool. It is Proposition 1 in both cities.

In Des Moines the legislation is would create a park district that would support just the pool. The park district would levy a $.20 tax on every $1,000 of accessed property value.

Normandy Park's proposition is much the same, however it is to increase the level of service and upgrade the parks as well as raise money for the pool.

The Normandy Park proposition is for a property tax of up to $.45 tax on a $1,000 of accessed property value. The actual tax would be determined by the city council after the proposition passes, but with a $.45 limit.

The Highline School District is working on a plan to continue the swim program at least through this season, if the propositions in Des Moines and Normandy Park fail, a spokesperson for the Highline School District said. But at this point the plan is to ask AMG if they can keep it open for the rest of the season.

This is an unlikely option however. Spencer said it costs nearly $13,000 a month to heat the pool during the winter.

The Highline School District has said they will continue funding the pool if additional funding comes from Des Moines and Normandy Park.

The district currently gives $20,000 a year to the pool, and will continue to do so as long as they have additional support.

Mount Rainier Pool was built as a part of the King County Forward Thrust program in the late 1960s. In 2002 the county announced they would no longer fund it.

In 2004 Des Moines and Normandy Park became joint owners of the pool, with additional funding from the City of SeaTac and the Highline School District.

In spring of this year the school district became the sole owner of the pool, with Normandy Park and Des Moines funding it through the end of the year. SeaTac has ceased their funding with the opening of the new YMCA that includes a pool.

The YMCA pool is not competition sized and therefore will not be an alternative for high school swim teams. SeaTac officials said they offered to build a competition-sized pool if Highline could help fund it but the district declined.

The YMCA pool is also not an option for people who live at Wesley Homes retirement community and walk to the Mt. Rainier Pool. Faith Callahan, a 104-year-old Wesley resident, exercises at the pool three times a week.

Spencer said he cannot think of another venue that brings people from so many different backgrounds together.

"Even the people who are not using the pool need to ask themselves what are kids going to do if they don't have the pool?" Spencer said.
"I think it is too important to let it go. I can't think of anything that brings such a diverse group of people together."

There is a Web site and a Facebook group for saving the pool. The Web site is www.mrpoolsos.com.

Melanie Lambuth, who created the Facebook group and is currently a lifeguard at the pool, said it was like a second home to her from ages 6-15.

She grew up taking lessons at the pool and went on to swim for Kings Aquatic Club for seven years, practicing five to six times a week during that time.

For the last four years she has been working at the pool as a lifeguard.

"I am one of several people that have the pool to thank for bringing them their boyfriend/girlfriend, and I know there are still introductions to be made, and lives to be changed," Lambuth said.