Causando sensación
Lopez Swim Center brings year-round swimming, energy-efficient design, and free lessons to the community
For more than two decades, many community members have dreamed about a community swimming facility. In July, that idea became a reality when Lopez Swim Center opened. The center is run by Friends of Lopez Island Pool, or FLIP— a grassroots, volunteer-powered nonprofit.
Lopez Swim Center has two pools— a wellness pool and a 25-yard lap pool. A removable, inflatable dome makes the center available to the community yearround. The warm-water wellness pool, kept at 88 degrees, has a cushioned bottom, good for learning to swim and physical therapy. The four-lane lap pool is 7½ feet deep at the deep end and has specified times for lap swimmers. The pool can facilitate lifeguard classes, aquatic programs and emergency responder training.
Minimal Environmental Impact
The group of volunteers who made the pool a reality made every effort to ensure the center can function with minimal environmental impact. The system has regenerative media filters that use much less water, heat pumps for maximum energy efficiency, variable speed pumps that reduce energy use and thermal pool covers that reduce the need to heat the pools. The system uses Myrtha Pools, which are made of steel and have a smaller carbon footprint and a longer life than traditional concrete. UV disinfection keeps chemical use to a minimum while keeping the pool clean. The dome cover is removed in the summer to reduce the need for air conditioning and dehumidification. This model uses translucent fabric over the center to allow for natural light.
Community-Minded
FLIP volunteers worked closely with many community partners, including Lopez School District and Orcas Power & Light Cooperative, which share a community well system. OPALCO and the swim center have wells, the school has a water treatment plant, and it is all shared with the center. The swim center financed its heat pumps—which heat the water and provide heat for the dome, buildings and shower rooms—through OPALCO’s on-bill financing program, Switch It Up.
When planners analyzed the benefits of using heat pumps as the main energy source instead of propane, they found they could save up to 70% on heating bills annually. Heat pumps also have the additional benefit of not relying on carbon-based fuel sources.
The center offers swim lessons and water sports in partnership with Lopez schools. All students from any Lopez school may participate in swim lessons at no cost, thanks to a generous sponsor. There is a new school-to-pool trail for students to easily get to the center, which also has a community room that functions as a multipurpose space with a yard.
This project started many years ago but really ramped up around 2016 with a team of dedicated board members. The property was donated, and more than $10 million was raised to build and begin the operations of the pool. More than 1,300 individuals—nearly half of the year-round population— donated money, volunteered and supported Lopez Swim Center to make this vision a reality. Future funding will come from membership fees, grants and continued fundraising efforts.
Learning to swim on an island is critical for a healthy and safe life. Having access to a pool will help children and adults develop the skills and confidence they need to enjoy water safely. “I can’t wait to get the swim lesson programs up and running,” Aquatics Manager Lance Anderson says. “There is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone learning in the water.”
For more information about membership and hours of operation, visit lopezswimcenter.org.
Find out how to finance an energy-efficient heat pump at opalco.com/switchitup
