Will the pool ever be covered?

The approved pool levy (Proposition #1) provided the White Salmon Valley Pool Metropolitan Park District the authority to construct, operate, and maintain a pool. The explanatory statement associated with the proposition states that the preliminary plans include an “outdoor six-lane swimming pool and a separate “zero-entry” exercise/therapy/learning pool.”

The additional expenses to accommodate a possible future roof for the pool facility (either permanent or retractable) would be quite costly. Oversized structural elements and systems upgrades would need to be installed at the time of initial construction. Based on current projections on levy funding and historical usage & revenue from usage, the most fiscally sustainable option is to continue with a seasonal pool.

Additionally, the District has received state grant funding which is restricted to outdoor athletic facilities. If a decision was made to install a roof in the future, the District would be financially responsible to return any grant funds that were associated with the roof structure and accompanying systems..

Given public input, it is clear that some district residents would someday like to have a covered pool and, if public support and funding is available, the board is not opposed to reviewing financial feasibility of a future covered pool.