LopezRocks - News and Views

After two decades of planning and community effort, for the first time, Lopez Island residents will have an all-ages, year-round community swim center offering local access to swimming, water safety, and aquatic recreation.

"This is a day Lopez Island has been working toward for a long time," says Executive Director Bill LeDrew. "The Swim Center will be a vital hub for this community. It's a place where children learn to swim, families spend time together, adults stay active, seniors maintain their health, and neighbors connect across generations."

The Swim Center features two pools at two different temperatures. Designed to offer the best of both outdoor and indoor swimming, the pools are open to the sky in summer and under a heated dome in cooler months, making swimming on Lopez Island a year-round experience.

The 25-yard, four-lane lap pool supports lap swimming, fitness, swim lessons, water safety instruction, training, and recreational swimming. Lane configurations can be adjusted during recreational swim times to accommodate a variety of activities.

The warmer-water wellness pool provides a great place for swim lessons, water exercise, and family recreation. Wide entry steps make the pool easier to access for swimmers of all ages and abilities, and offer a comfortable perch to relax and visit with family and friends. For the youngest swimmers, the stairs create a gentle, sheltered spot to splash and get comfortable in the water for the first time.

"Learning to swim is one of the most important skills a child can have," says Aquatics Manager Lance Anderson. "We're excited to help more children become confident and safe in the water."

Annual, monthly, seasonal, weekly, and daily memberships are available - whether you live on Lopez year-round, seasonally, or are just visiting. As a nonprofit community swim center, memberships support year-round operations. For full details, visit lopezswimcenter.org/memberships or call 360-622-POOL (7665).

Need-based financial assistance is available for qualifying full-time Lopez Island residents. Information and applications are available at access@lopezislandpool.org.

The Swim Center will initially offer lap swim, open swim, and play time, with swim lessons and additional aquatic programs added over time. Hours will expand as the Center transitions to its summer schedule. Current hours and pool schedules are available at lopezswimcenter.org

"The Swim Center stands as a testament to the vision of its founder, Linda Barton, and the more than 1,300 volunteers, donors, and community members who believed this day would come," says LeDrew. "We open the doors today, but the true legacy of this Swim Center will be measured in the children who learn to swim, the families who make memories here, and the generations of islanders who enjoy the water together."

About the Lopez Swim Center

The Lopez Swim Center is a membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit aquatic facility on Lopez Island, owned and operated by Friends of Lopez Island Pool (FLIP).

Lopez Swim Center Website