Frequently Asked Questions

Access to affordable, nearby swim instruction directly saves lives. Drowning is the leading cause of preventable death for children ages 1 through 4, according to the National Safety Council. A community pool provides year-round access to low-impact exercise, therapeutic water activities, and recreational swimming that promotes physical and mental health for all ages, abilities, and economic status.

The total estimate includes design, permitting, construction, paying off the property purchase, and related fees and contingencies. The proposed MPD revenue would be used to finance $95 million of one-time project costs, with the balance funded with a grant from King County.

Shoreline's cost estimate for the pool is in line with other aquatic centers in the region. Pools require a more complex system design than a school building or a recreation center. Aquatic centers are among the most expensive building types per square foot because they require industrial dehumidification and corrosion-resistant HVAC systems, plus water treatment and filtration systems.

This Isn't the Gold-Plated Version. The city studied a 35,000 sq ft option. It wasn't enough. They studied larger options too. Those were cut. The Council set a hard cap of $100 million and held it by removing amenities to stay within budget. What remains is the minimum viable facility that actually meets community needs. For comparison: the 2019 bond proposal was 75,000 sq ft. This one is 48,000.

163 Neighbors Applied. 17 Were Chosen. They Voted Unanimously. The city convened a Pool Facility Advisory Committee - 17 residents selected from 163 applicants, representing every part of Shoreline. They spent five months studying the options. Their recommendation: put this measure on the ballot.They voted unanimously. This isn't a backroom deal. It's the most publicly vetted capital project in the city's recent history.

City staff estimate the Shoreline Pool will have 66% cost recovery — meaning user fees will cover the majority of the cost, with the remaining costs covered by tax revenue. This is very strong. Parks, libraries and community centers all run on a subsidy. By subsidizing some of the operations and maintenance costs through tax revenue, the City can keep costs lower for users, making the pool more accessible and affordable.

Proposition 1 will allow the City of Shoreline to create a Metropolitan Parks District (MPD), which is a long-standing Washington State financing mechanism for local jurisdictions. An MPD is a property tax. Many cities in Washington state have MPDs, including Tacoma, Tukwila and North Bend, to fund and operate pools.

Yes, there is a huge demand for pools due to the lack of pools in the area. The Shoreline Pool will have high utilization from the moment it opens.

The pool is designed to support everyone, from young children learning to swim to water aerobics for older adults. Shorecrest and Shorewood high school swim teams currently rent and practice in private, outdoor swimming pools because there is no publicly owned pool in Shoreline. The Shoreline pool is designed to accommodate the needs of our public school swim teams.

A community pool is an essential, public resource. Investment in public infrastructure allows communities to thrive, grow and succeed. A public pool is where we learn to swim, stay healthy, and build community.