Federal Way Aquatic Center Wants To Make Bigger Splash

FEDERAL WAY - If looks were all that mattered, the sleek $18 million King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way wouldn't have an y problems luring the public to its waters.

But looks aren't everything.

Since the world-class swimming facility was built for last summer's Goodwill Games, the number of swimmers paying to use it has been lower than county officials expected.

County budget director John Amos said all of the county's pools are losing money because of slower business, but the aquatic center is behind the others. Officials aren't sure why business in general is down.

Michael Dunwiddie, manager of Aquatic Center, which features a diving pool, an Olympic-sized competition pool and a smaller recreational pool, said attendance is fine at the smaller pool.

Attracting paying swimmers to the larger pool is the problem.

Lap swimmers aren't coming regularly, Dunwiddie said. County officials said 854 lap swimmers used the 50-meter pool last month, compared with 1,029 at the county's other pool in Federal Way, a 25-meter facility.

One reason may be the competition pool's $2.35 fee, compared with other county pools' $1.25 charge. Officials assumed people would pay the higher price for the Olympic-sized pool because it was newer.

The Olympic-sized pool also is long enough that swimmers need to be relatively dedicated and fit to use it, Dunwiddie noted.

Dunwiddie said lap swimmers also might be discouraged from the larger pool because competitive swimming is a first priority there.

The center has a heavy schedule of local and national competitions, and the general public can't use the Olympic-sized pool when those events are scheduled.

The recreational pool remains open during swimming competitions.

The county expected swimming fees to pay about half the center's $825,000 operating costs, Amos said.

Based on the first three months of the year, the yearly figure will probably fall $100,000 short of its goal.

It's still too early to get alarmed, Amos said, but his office is monitoring the center's progress.

"We didn't have good historical data when it started," Amos said. He said the Olympic-sized pool was the first of its kind for the county.

King County Councilman Paul Barden said the Parks Division, which supervises the pool, should consider lowering the price to swim at the competition pool.

Bob Regan, county aquatic-section chief, is optimistic about a venture he says just needs a chance to get on its feet. "We're not in a position where we're going to close down," he said. "There may be some problems, but they're not major problems at all."

Aside from use of the Olympic-sized pool, the center is flourishing in its swimming-lesson programs and use of the recreational pool, Dunwiddie said.

The center's U-shaped recreational pool is 25 yards long and costs $1.25 for general swimming and $1.90 for lap swimming.

"This is a nice setting," said Auburn resident Robert Keffer, who takes his grandchildren to the recreation pool during the summer.

Dunwiddie and Regan are thinking of ways to attract more public swimmers to the Olympic-sized pool.

Exercise equipment such as weights and stationary bikes might bring in a new crowd who want to work out before they swim, they said.

"We want to enhance the opportunities a little bit," Regan said.

The center will be closed for maintenance work in August or September, a slow time for the indoor facility because of the good weather outside.