There are probably few cities the size of Tukwila that have a swimming pool.
That community asset could have been lost, arguably a second time, had not voters decided to take it upon themselves to pay to operate and maintain the pool.
But Tukwila stepped up in 2011 and created a new government agency, the Tukwila Pool Metropolitan Parks District, to own the pool and contract with the City of Tukwila to operate it.
The transition has not been without controversy. There is concern about the pool’s finances, but the MPD board is addressing those budgetary issues with a conservative plan that sets aside money for maintenance and repair needs in the future and a marketing plan to attract more swimmers to the pool.
More swimmers translates into more revenue. And I think the pool staff seems pretty adept at attracting grant dollars to help meet the pool’s goal of universal access.
Anyone in a public business in South King County knows you need to tailor your business plan to meet the needs of a diverse community. Frankly, a business that doesn’t faces failure.
That’s why it’s so critical that pool programmers reach out to anyone who wants to swim, either for pure recreation or basically to learn how to keep safe around all our water.
The MPD board listened to concerns but rightly left alone the single-gender swims on Sundays at the pool. There was no discrimination; the pool wasn’t even open during those times that are used by a single gender.
So, now is not the time to restrict the use of the pool, if you want to look at it in strictly dollars and cents. Tukwila needs bodies in the water that will help pay for its operations with their fees. The pool belongs to everyone.
Come on in; the water’s fine.
