EDMONDS — Yost Pool is off the chopping block. Again.
The popular outdoor pool will open June 1 for a shortened summer season after pool supporters raised more than $53,000 in private money, Mayor Gary Haakenson announced Tuesday.
By raising fees, opening one week late and closing one week early, on Aug. 31, the pool should be able to operate entirely on private money this year, Haakenson said.
“They raised an amazing amount of money,” he said. “They wiped out the deficit.”
Five weeks ago, Haakenson said Yost would close this summer because of the city’s $1 million sales tax shortfall. Closing the pool would have shaved $80,000 to $120,000 from city expenses. Recently announced furloughs at City Hall and cutbacks in other departments should save the city about $600,000.
Donations to support Yost are still trickling in, said Brian McIntosh, the parks and recreation director.
An overwhelming response was the goal, Yost supporters said.
“(Haakenson) could not say no,” said Mitch Stern of Edmonds. “We made it easy for him.”
Stern was one of the most vocal of a vast group of Yost Pool supporters. The group included former city officials; more than 1,100 people on Facebook; and a 5-year-old boy named Max, who donated all the money in his piggy bank: $1.18.
“There were countless people who contributed to this, not only their funds, but their time,” Stern said. “It extended deeply into the fabric of the community in Edmonds.”
This was the second time in six months that pool supporters had to rally. Closing the pool was briefly contemplated during the city’s budget process last winter.
While Yost’s 2009 season is safe, the pool’s long-term future is still in doubt.
A multimillion-dollar levy to support future city operations is making its way toward the November ballot, officials said. Depending on the size of the levy, it could keep the pool open well into the next decade, council president DJ Wilson said.
“This says a lot about how important Yost Pool is to this community, and specifically how important Yost Pool is to families in this community,” Wilson said. “I am thrilled we have made it through the summer, but we haven’t solved the long-term challenge.”
Chris Fyall: 425-339-3447, cfyall@heraldnet.com.
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