Project Overview  

In March 2024, the City Council directed staff to explore the possibility of a 2026 ballot measure to build, run, and maintain a new public indoor pool facility. The facility would be located just north of City Hall on the City-owned storage facility.  

This project builds on years of public input and previous efforts to build a new pool. A 2019 Parks and Pool bond measure asked voters if they wanted to fund a new 75,000 square foot pool, recreation, and community center and other park projects (see details below). A majority of voters (54%) voted “Yes,” but the bond measure did not receive the required 60% “Yes” vote needed to pass. Residents continue to express interest in a new pool that meets the community’s needs. 

The City is now exploring the possibility of a new pool-only facility that would be smaller in overall size than the facility proposed in 2019. The facility would include an 8-lane lap pool, a warmer water recreation pool, and additional features and amenities. The new facility would not include sport courts and other gym spaces. Spartan Recreation Center would continue to be the City’s primary recreation center, with its two gymnasiums, weight room, and several recreation multipurpose spaces.  

Shoreline Pool Design Open House

Over 65 community members attended an in-person Design Open House on Thursday, November 13. An online version of the open house is available on the project’s Engage Shoreline page. The Online Open House will be open from November 14 - November 30 so that Shoreline community members can review the current draft concept plan and provide comments.

Project Updates

Visit our Engage Shoreline page for project updates and to provide input. 

Shoreline Pool Advisory Committee

The City Manager has appointed 17 community members to serve on the Pool Facility Advisory Committee (Pool Committee) from September 2025 through February 2026. The Pool Committee’s goal is to make a recommendation to the City Manager about aspects of a pool facility funding measure that could potentially be on the November 2026 ballot. The Pool Committee reflects the diversity of the Shoreline community, including both swimmers and non-swimmers.  

The City Manager will review the Committee’s recommendation before providing an update to City Council in March 2026. City Council will decide whether to place a ballot measure to fund a pool facility on the November 2026 General Election ballot by August 2026.

Background Information

King County built the former Shoreline Pool in 1971. When Shoreline became a City in 1995, the City became the pool owner. The City maintained and ran the pool for more than two decades. However, in the pool’s later years, it became clear that the pool was reaching the end of its useful life. Maintenance costs increased and it became harder to make the repairs on the aging equipment.  

In anticipation of eventually needing to close the pool, the City conducted a feasibility study on building a new pool facility in 2017. The City also sought community input and heard from hundreds of community members through development of the 2017-2023 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan and other outreach. Most people expressed interest in a new pool facility. 

Through a concept design process that involved input from a community advisory committee, the City Council decided to place a Parks and Pool bond measure on the November 2019 ballot. The bond measure asked Shoreline voters if they wanted to fund a new 75,000 square foot pool, recreation, and community center, in addition to funding for redevelopment of four parks. Although the measure received a majority “Yes” vote (54%), it did not receive the required 60% “Yes” vote needed to pass a bond measure. 

Following the failed bond measure, the Council made the difficult decision to close the Shoreline Pool in the fall of 2021. However, the Shoreline Pool was Permanently Closed in the fall of 2020 due to the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This left a gap in access to pool activities for Shoreline community members. 

In 2023, the City participated in the North King County Regional Aquatic Centers Feasibility. This study explored partnership opportunities with neighboring jurisdictions to build a joint aquatics center. Unfortunately, no partnerships appeared to be viable at this time for a variety of reasons. 

The 2024-2030 Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Public Art Plan includes the following Strategic Action Initiative: “Continue to pursue opportunities to provide access to aquatic and recreation facilities for residents.”