Future of Carole Ann Wald Pool remains unclear, Kenmore officials say

Published 1:11 pm Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Even after a visit from the director of the state parks and recreation commission, local officials say the future of the Carole Ann Wald Pool remains unclear.

However, the possibility of the closed facility reopening any time soon also seems remote at best.

In comments made during a Kenmore City Council meeting July 19, Rex Derr, director of the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission, seemed to leave the door open for a new operator to take over the facility in St. Edward State Park, according to Mayor David Baker and other councilmembers.

But before the meeting ended, Derr turned in a letter that seemed a lot less optimistic regarding the pool’s future.

In the letter, Derr described the pool and attached gym, built in the 1960s and 1930s, respectively, as “increasingly obsolete.” He also talked about the dire straits of the state budget and how indoor pools never have been a part of the commission’s core undertakings.

“After considering the inescapable economics of this situation and with regret, I have directed staff to close the pool,” Derr wrote in part.

He added officials would consider making the gym available to the public “on an economic basis to be determined.”

Kenmore Councilman Allan Van Ness said he doesn’t believe the letter spells the pool’s doom.

“Yes, he (Derr,) directed the park to close the pool,” Van Ness said, but he also quickly noted the pool has been closed since the beginning of the year. Van Ness said there is “nothing new” in Derr’s announcement that the pool would be closed.

“The question is: Is there a way to make the necessary repairs to reopen the facility?” Van Ness said.

Park commission Public Information Officer Sandy Mealling said she was not directly familiar with Derr’s letter. However, she said her understanding is the state is willing to entertain the possibility of a new operator, but added the park commission will not be contributing financially to the pool.

Mealling also said state officials may send out a request for proposals to run the pool, but deemed it unlikely such a request would attract any responses given the financial situation surrounding the pool.

Funded by the city, an engineering study contends about $919,000 in repairs would be needed to reopen the pool immediately and keep it open for about five years. About $2.8 million would be needed to keep the pool open beyond that time frame.

Overall, ORB Architects made roughly a dozen recommendations regarding the pool, ranging from repairing an underground leak in pool piping to replacing damaged ceiling tiles. After the July 19 council meeting, Van Ness said some of the recommendations relate to possible health-code violations.

Van Ness referred to sanitary conditions in the pool locker room, which apparently includes the presence of standing water. According to the ORB report, the locker rooms lack sufficient drainage. Van Ness said previous pool operators apparently were made aware of possible violations by health officials. However, he added those operators never passed on those concerns.

Council has authorized further structural studies of the pool, including dye testing to find what has been described as a fairly major water leak in the pool.

Several local officials, including Baker, have expressed reservations about Kenmore footing the entire repair bill for the pool, especially since the facility is owned by the state. Baker recently talked about private fund-raising efforts possibly helping with the repairs. Van Ness suggested Bastyr University or Evergreen Hospital, both of which have made direct or indirect use of the pool in the past, might be willing to contribute to reopening the pool.