02/04/2026
Greetings Fat Salmon swimmer enthusiasts. New Green Lake Pool planned! Some your fellow swimmers are encouraging you to sign a petition to expand on the planned size of the new pool. We already have over 1,000 signatures but we know there are more of you!
The current proposal would replace the lap pool with one of the same size and number of lanes. You likely have experienced challenges with crowded lanes for lap swim in Seattle. Seattle’s swimming community continues to grow and this project presents an opportunity to create a larger and better pool for our community. Sign the petition (its quick and easy) and consider sending emails to all city council members and the mayor. Read on for more info:
As a user of City of Seattle pools, you are likely familiar with our aging facilities and the growing challenge of meeting community demand. Seattle’s pool system has not kept pace with population growth, and city leaders need to hear directly from you, the citizens.
While expanding aquatic facilities citywide is a top concern, the immediate focus is the Green Lake Pool Rebuild which is actively underway and needs your community awareness.
If this is a concern for you, I need your help spreading the word.
You can help advocate for expanding the Green Lake Pool capacity and more by taking three crucial steps:
1. Email Seattle’s City Council Members and mayor! (email addresses are readily available online)
2. Share this information with your network
3. Sign the Petition
Why This Matters
In the 70 years since the Green Lake Pool was built, according to the United States Census Bureau, Seattle’s population has grown from 467,591 in 1950 to 737,015 in 2020, an approximately 58% increase. Yet, the city added only one new public pool after the 1970s, Mounger Pool in 1998, despite continued population growth in every decade.
Seattle is surrounded by water, yet King County averages about 27 drowning deaths each year, more than 70% of which may be preventable. A 2009 case-control study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning in children by up to 88%. Despite this, drowning remains a serious public health issue: CDC data from 2018–2022 show Washington State ranks ninth nationally in drowning rates.
At the same time:
• Most City of Seattle pools are over 50 years old
• Seattle’s population has grown by ~50% during that period
• Swim lessons are consistently waitlisted
• Lap swimmers often share lanes with five or more swimmers
• Swim teams struggle to find adequate pool time
• Many city pools have limited hours and are not open seven days per week
• No city pool can support a regulation water polo game due to insufficient depth
• Modern aquatic facilities have eight or more lanes that better support demand for lane space and can often support multiple programs concurrently
What You Can Do
We respectfully urge you to contact Seattle city leadership and advocate for expanded public pool capacity at Green Lake and across Seattle. The Green Lake Pool project is moving forward, but with strong community support, it can be expanded to better serve current and future generations.
We can and should do better than the status quo.
Expand and Enhance the Green Lake Pool Rebuild
