The Vashon Pool proposal is a low-risk opportunity for VPD to provide year round access to the pool. These are the facts:

1. The Seals are raising all the capital to purchase and install the bubble and, with others in the community, will fundraise and grant write to support the pool.

2. Hundreds of hours went into the proposal, which included engineering, research and permitting — all at no cost to VPD.

3. VPD has generated conservative revenue and cost projections, and the proposal now includes a cap on spending.

4. The Seals will guarantee over 50 percent of projected revenue with fees for practice time. To meet the operating cost target, only 14 people per day would need to use the pool.

5. To operate the pool year round, VPD would have to allocate about 4.4 percent of its overall budget.

6. The recent VPD survey found that the pool rated first relative to other deferred maintenance projects and that the pool ranked in the top three of “wish list” items.

7. Over two weeks in April, a petition supporting this proposal was signed by more than 1,500 residents of voting age. Many who signed are community leaders, educators, wellness providers and business owners.

We need more options for healthy activities, especially during the winter, and year-round access to the pool would benefit people of all ages. The risk for VPD is low, and this could have such a positive impact on our community.

— Karl Stetson