Remodeling To Close Facilities -- Lynnwood Pool, Weight Room Will Be Upgraded, Expanded

-- LYNNWOOD

Athletes, take note: The city's public swimming pool and several other facilities at the Lynnwood Recreation Center will close Monday for renovation and expansion.

City officials hope to reopen the pool and locker rooms by early January, but it may be April until the weight room and other improvements are finished. The center's racquetball courts and multipurpose rooms will remain open.

The $653,700 construction project is the first major renovation of the 14-year-old building, located at 18900 44th Ave. W.

"We really hate to close," said Parks and Recreation Director Bill Evans. "But we really think the improvements will be well received by the public."

Evans said remodeling work will include expanding and upgrading the locker rooms and weight room, improving the swimming pool, adding more handicapped facilities and recarpeting and repainting the inside of the building.

"Walls are not falling down or anything," said Evans, explaining the building has been kept in good condition but the upgrade is needed in response to increased use.

Last year, nearly 180,000 people used the swimming pool, he said.

"It's just jam-packed in those locker rooms," he said.

Baby-changing tables, more showers, coin-operated lockers and additional handicapped facilities will be added in the men's and women's locker rooms, Evans said.

A 2,600-square-foot addition to the building will serve as the new weight room - a change that will about double the size of the current weight room. New weight equipment may include as many as five electronic exercise cycles and five stair climbers, he said.

Evans said the main improvement to the pool area will be the replacement of plastic windows with safety glass.

"It should give it a lot more natural light," said Evans. "(The plastic) gets clouded so you can't see out of it."

Other improvements will include mechanical repairs and the addition of some office area, a staff locker room and an employee lunchroom.

"We hope it will be another 15 years before we have to close down again," he said.

Other area public swimming pools include: -- Mountlake Terrace Pool - 5303 228th St. S.W., Mountlake Terrace. For swim times, call 776-9173. -- Forest Park Pool - 802 Mukilteo Boulevard, Everett. For swim times, call 259-0300. -- Shoreline Pool - 19030 First Ave. N.E., Seattle. For swim times, call 296-4345. -- Northshore Pool - 9815 N.E. 188th St., Bothell. For swim times, call 296-4333.