Groundbreaking Planned For Yakima’s New Pool At MLK Jr. Park

A new pool in planned in Yakima. It's a new aquatic center at MLK, Jr. Park and
on Wednesday May 8th, city officials will hold a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction. Groundbreaking will be held at 1:00 pm on May 8th at MLK Jr. Park, 610 S. Ninth Street.

FUNDING FOR THE CENTER COMES FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES

The estimated cost of the MLK Jr. Park aquatic center is about $11 million. Where's all the money coming from? City officials say both the city and county have each contributed $3 million to the pool project. The city was able to gain $2 million from Washington taxpayers through the Washington State Legislature. A press release says "a grassroots, community-based committee formed last summer to generate $3 million from private donors to build the aquatic center. All donations are being made to the Yakima Valley Community Foundation."

LOCAL DONATIONS AND ONE FROM OIC OF WASHINGTON

Pledges from the community also include $500,000 from OIC of Washington and $225,000 from the Yakima Valley Community Foundation. Fundraising drives have been held throughout the community to raise money for the project.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY IT'S A PROJECT THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS

“This is a remarkable achievement by the community,” Yakima Parks and Recreation Manager Ken Wilkinson says of breaking ground on the pool. “An aquatic center for MLK Jr. Park is the realization of a vision years in the making.”
The original pool at MLK, Jr. Park (which was called Washington Park at the time) closed in 2006 because of ongoing equipment problems. In 2005 the city closed two pools, Miller and Eisenhower Pools that had reached the end of their use and were also having equipment problems.

CONSTRUCTION STARTS SOON

The Yakima City Council on April 16 authorized a contract with Chervenell Construction Company to start work on the Aquatic Center at MLK, Jr. Park.
You can help by donating
https://yakimavalleycf.org/