12/11/2025
The hosted an open house to take public input for the Civic Athletics Facility Master Plan.......and the community has spoken loudly and without question for increased aquatics facilities.
And not only for aquatics but competitive aquatics with additional lanes and a 50 meter pool!
If the city of Bellingham realized a 50 meter pool with adequate spectator seating it would be one of only 2 such facilities in the entire Puget Sound region. Such a facility would be an economic driver for Bellingham. Just last weekend the swim meet in Snohomish (which is a much smaller facility) hosted over 800 families! These families not only visit the aquatics center but hotels, restaurants and other recreational activities. Such a facility would allow Bellingham to host meets pulling from the entire west coast and mountain west!
But this would also be beneficial for the entire community on a day to day basis. Currently the existing Arne Hanna facility is completely overloaded with different groups fighting for water time. Water aerobics, lessons, lap swim, swim team (club, high school and masters), open swim, kayaking, ECT, all compete for time slots. However with a 50 meter pool and bulkhead(s) the pool can be divided allowing multiple groups and teams to use the pool at the same time.
Additionally a 50 meter pool facility would give a home base for both the Bellingham Bay Swim Team and all highschool swim teams. Currently these teams are fractured with part of the club teams traveling 30 min to practice in tiny exercise facilities in Lynden. Because of the current limited facilities these teams cannot expand.
And..... currently..... When our community does want to visit an aquatics facility, where do they go? Arne Hanna? NOPE! They go across the border to Canada where they have invested in such facilities.
Itwill not be easy to realize.....but an expanded multiuse aquatics facility would be a huge benefit to our community.
