SOUTH WHIDBEY PARKS AND RECREATION DISTRICT: District to float bond for swimming pool (SWR)
South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District Commissioner Matt Simms
Kira Erickson reports in the South Whidbey Record from the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District board meeting of Wed., Mar. 15, 2023.
Come this November, voters will have the choice of whether or not to approve a bond for a public pool facility on South Whidbey.
During a meeting this week, the board of commissioners for the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District decided to move ahead with a bond measure for the proposed South Whidbey Aquatic Wellness Center.
How much that bond will be, however, will depend on the amount of money that the parks and rec district is able to raise for the project between now and November. State Rep. Dave Paul and Rep. Clyde Shavers are co-sponsoring the project, which has a request for $1.4 million, in this year’s state capital budget.
Sign Up For The Voter Interests Project Newsletter
Get news and events for your local area in your inbox every Monday morning!
They Said It
“That’s our goal, is we’ll be continuing to raise money from these other sources and that will reduce the amount that is actually issued,” South Whidbey Parks and Rec Commissioner Matt Simms said in an interview with The Record.
Simms pointed to a recent community survey about the project, which garnered 4,000 responses. More than 70% of respondents indicated that the pool was a high priority, and many taking the survey included supportive comments about the project.
“It had just become clear to us that the community wants us to act, and act now,” Simms said.
“If the bond is successful, people will be swimming in it in the summer of 2025,” Simms said, adding that construction is slated to begin in 2024 if all goes well.
On the Ballot in November 2023
| SOUTH WHIDBEY PARKS AND RECREATION DISTRICT |
| Commissioners. Two of the five commissioner positions are scheduled to be on the ballot. Position 1: Krista Loercher Position 3: Jennifer Cox |
