Grant to Fund Critical Repairs to 50-Year-Old Pool
DES MOINES, WA / ACCESSWIRE / November 19, 2024 / The Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District is excited to share the news of receiving a $1.438 million grant from King County's Best Starts for Kids. This generous funding will be used to replace the Mount Rainier Pool's Air Handling Unit, which is crucial for maintaining air quality and temperature in the natatorium. The Air Handling Unit, responsible for removing toxins from the air and regulating temperature and humidity, is the most expensive piece of equipment at the pool.
With this grant, the pool district can make these critical repairs without increasing taxes to cover the costs of these critical repairs. The Mount Rainier Pool will continue to focus on providing affordable water safety programming, fitness opportunities, and serving as a community gathering place.
In addition to this grant, the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District received $213,000 for boiler water tanks, plumbing, and strainer basket repairs for the Mount Rainier Pool.
Patrice Thorell, Board Commissioner, expressed gratitude to King County Parks and the Best Starts for Kids grant program for their invaluable support, emphasizing the importance of swimming as an essential life skill. The funding will also enable the district to focus on finding a replacement for the 49-year-old Mount Rainier Pool, built in 1975 when the population of Des Moines was a fraction of what it is today. The district aims to increase capacity to better meet the needs of the current community, including important ADA upgrades. The air handling unit along with other repairs are scheduled to be replaced in August 2025, and updates will be posted on our website's project page (www.mtrainierpool.com/aquatics-feasibility/).
About the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District/Mount Rainier Pool
The Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District is a junior taxing district that governs the Mount Rainier Pool and serves the residents of Des Moines (Washington) and surrounding areas. The pool provides fitness, swim lessons, free lifeguard certifications, water safety training and a safe place for individuals and families in the area to recreate. For more information about the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District and its initiatives, visit https://mtrainierpool.com/aquatics-feasibility/ or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Best Starts for Kids Grant
Best Starts for Kids is a King County voter-approved initiative to support every baby born or child raised in King County to reach adulthood happy, healthy, safe, and thriving. Through comprehensive supports from prenatal development to adulthood, Best Starts for Kids catalyzes strong starts in early childhood and sustains those gains as kids progress to adulthood, launching King County's kids on a path to lifelong health and well-being.
To date, Best Starts for Kids has served more than half-a-million King County children, youth, young adults, and families in partnership with more than 500 community-based organizations.
Contact Information
Scott Deschenes
District General Manager
scott.deschenes@desmoinespool.org
(206) 429-3852
Related Files
Press Release - Best Starts for Kids Grant 11182024
SOURCE: Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District
View the original press release on newswire.com.
