They knew something was wrong when 100,000 gallons of water disappeared in just 10 days.
The Southeast Family YMCA pool in the Seattle Hill area is an outdoor pool, so some evaporation was expected.
It’s more than 40 years old, and in recent years had to be repaired annually. Cracks in the pool were filled in over the years, and a fiberglass coating sealed the pool to prevent leaking. Concrete patches kept kids from stubbing their toes on the pool deck.
Workers filled the outdoor pool in April to get it ready for the summer. But the discovered leak – or rather the empty pool – and as much as $100,000 in listed repairs have meant the permanent closure of the community pool.
“We’re very sad,” said Gary Vangen, executive director of the Southeast Family YMCA. “We knew it had a leak.”
This one was too big, Vangen said.
“It came down to an expense factor,” he said.
The pool, at 13723 Puget Park Drive, was first owned by Silver Firs homeowners and deeded to the YMCA in 1986. As many as 4,000 people have used the pool in recent summer seasons, Vangen said. Those swimmers searching for a pool can instead go to the Mukilteo, Marysville or Everett YMCAs.
The pool will be replaced, but a capital campaign is needed. YMCA officials hope to raise $3 million to build an indoor facility where the Southeast Family YMCA pool is today, Vangen said.
For more information on the campaign, call Vangen at 425-357-3031.
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
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