State Approval advances the next milestone for the New Bellevue Aquatic Center

Taking the new Bellevue Aquatic Center from Concept Plan to Schematic Design Phase

Hello SPLASHForward Friend,

With the excitement, thrill, and inspiration of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics still fresh, the world's and winter sport's best athletes are an inspiration for whatever your personal goals may be, athletic or not. Olympic Gold Medalist Alysa Liu in an interview last week by Newsweek shared that she can't live without water and that she is a water enthusiast. Ok, she was talking about drinking water, but still, it struck a chord. We are water enthusiasts and we are creating water enthusiasts with twenty-five of Super Stars from Stevenson Elementary. Be sure to read more about the launch of our Every 2nd Grader Learns to Swim Program in this newsletter!

The big news we are excited to share is that the City of Bellevue received approval from the State's Project Review Council to use the construction delivery methodology of Progressive Design Build late last month. This significant milestone allows the City to release a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for both the lead contractor and architect for the development of Bellevue Airfield Park and the new Bellevue Aquatic Center. The RFQ is imminently expected and eagerly awaited by both local and national contractors and architects. Just over 110 construction and design industry professionals packed City Hall in early February for an informational meeting. It stands to be a highly competitive selection process that we eagerly await the outcome to learn who will be our Project Team leads and collaborative partners.

Standing room only at Bellevue's City Council chambers on February 5th for an Informational meeting to learn about the upcoming Request for Qualifications for the development of Bellevue Airfield Park and the new Bellevue Aquatic Center.

With aging public pools closing in Seattle (Medgar Evers Pool and Queen Anne Pool) and Olympia (Evergreen State College Pool), some temporarily and some threatening permanently, the need for investment in our future public aquatic facilities are all the more poignant. We are committed to our goal to carry the vision, build the partnerships, and raise the private funds so that our community and region can live in modern times with modern aquatic amenities creating greater access to aquatics and essential life skills.

There have been countless thrilling moments over the past few months to share with you. Thank you for reading this long overdue update and choosing to invest in SplashForward with your engagement and support.

With a keen focus on the future and in partnership,

Susan Pappalardo

Co-Founder, Board President

SPLASHForward

Phasing of Bellevue Airfield Park

The development of Bellevue Airfield Park will be phased. Phase 1 will include the Park elements that are not the aquatic center - the covered pickleball courts, splashpad, playground, trails, picnic area, basketball court and the design and site prep for the aquatic center.

Phase 2 will include the aquatic center and optimizing the timeline to closely follow Phase 1 will depend on public and private funding and capital partnerships. SPLASHForward is preparing for our capital campaign. We will share some exciting news in the coming months as we kick off the first phase of our private campaign.

Bellevue Airfield Park Master Plan

So what is Progressive Design Build?

Progressive Design Build (PDB) is a construction delivery methodology that brings the contractor, architect, and owner together under one contract allowing for the greatest flexibility to collaboratively determine the scope and budget with a design phase and a design build phase. Given the scale (130,000 sq foot aquatic facility), the site (former landfill), and the funding complexity (public/private) to develop Airfield Park and the new Bellevue Aquatic Center, PDB allows for taking full advantage of the collective team expertise leading to informed and optimized design decisions reducing risks and overall project costs.

Bottom line - this is the right choice that best supports an informed fundraising plan.

USA Swimming Foundation Youth Learn to Swim Grant Award

We’re pleased to share that SPLASHForward has been awarded a USA Swimming Foundation Youth Learn to Swim Grant Award for our Every 2nd Grader Learns to Swim Program.

This grant covers the cost of swim lessons and transportation for our two program pilots supporting 54 students at John Muir Elementary during the school day and 25 students at Stevenson Elementary after school. Our program partners along with the Elementary Schools include the Bellevue School

District, Bellevue Parks and Community Services, the Bellevue Aquatic Center, Lake Washington School District, Wave Aquatics at The Juanita HS Pool, and Nurturing Water Therapies. 

A huge THANK YOU to the USA Swimming Foundation for awarding us this grant and to our partners for helping us receive this grant award!

Every 2nd Grader Learns to Swim kicks off with Stevenson Elementary

Beginning Their Water Story

It's simply been a thrill to launch our Every 2nd Grader Learns to Swim Program with Stevenson Elementary School's Super Star 2nd graders. We are supporting 25 students with six free swim lessons, water safety education, and support to continue their water journey. After school, we walk from school to the pool for lessons and water fun. For nearly 80% of the students these are their first formal lessons and most would not have access to lessons without our program. The parents are grateful and everyone involved is having a great time.

"I learned to float on my back today and last time I learned how to swim." 

Stevenson 2nd grader

Seasi & Flip helped us teach our classroom water safety lesson to eighty-eight 2nd graders at Stevenson Elementary School.

Thank you to all of our parent and volunteer chaperones!

Women's History Month

To celebrate Women's History month we shine the light on Olympian Simone Manuel who made history a decade ago winning the first Gold Medal by an African American woman. She continues to inspire with her performances in and out of the pool raising awareness that swimming is a life saving skill and opening the door for the Black community to get in the water.

Youth Leadership & Advocacy Workshop

Save the Date

Calling all 8th Graders & HS Students!

Our SPLASHForward Youth Ambassador Committee is hosting our first annual Youth Leadership & Advocacy Workshop. This workshop is designed to help students learn more about aquatic advocacy, equity, water safety, community impact, and youth leadership through hands-on activities and inspiring keynote speakers such as Piper Enge and local legislators. It is intended for students from 8th grade through 12th grade, and registration will be completely free.

Interested in becoming an event sponsor? Our Youth Ambassadors want to hear from you!

Registration and more details coming soon!

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Proliance Orthopedic Associates

Thank you to Proliance Orthopedic Associates for continuing to be a supporting sponsor of our High School Lifeguard Training Program and becoming a new printing partner for our Seasi & Flip's Guide to Water Safety! The impact you help us make in the community is life changing.

"Several years ago my daughter benefited from lifeguard training through SPLASHForward, and it’s gratifying to me to now provide funding to facilitate future lifeguard education and training." - Fredrick Huang, M.D. orthopedic surgeon and partner at Proliance Orthopedic Associates

As a one of the largest orthopedic clinics in greater South Seattle, Renton, Maple Valley and Covington, we are committed to the health and wellness of our community.

BECU Credit Union

We are enjoying our partnership with BECU! This week BECU Branch Manager Vince Nguyen joined the very first day of our Every 2nd Grader Learns to Swim Program at Stevenson Elementary as an adult chaperone. A true example of corporate citizenship. What started as a meeting coordination to discuss sponsorship of our Youth Leadership & Advocacy Workshop, ended up as volunteer opportunity and a way to further BECU's connection and support with our organization.

Thank you to Vince and the BECU team for investing in a partnership with us that results in a win for BECU's customers and the community. We are stronger together!

Lifeguard Skill Strengthening Classes

April 3rd and May 1st

Register for our next two Friday Night Teen Lifeguard Skill Strengthening classes on April 3rd and May 1st! Learn and practice the lifeguard training prerequisites and your swimming skills in a fun group setting. We'll share feedback so that you'll know when you are ready to take a certification class. Come as often as you wish and bring a friend! Classes are open to 14 - 18yr olds and held at the Bellevue Aquatic Center from 8pm - 9pm with FREE Pizza after class provided by MOD Pizza of Bellevue Way.

Student Lifeguard Training Workshop

We are soon to release our 2026 Student Lifeguard Training Workshop! We invite middle and high school students to learn what it's like to be a lifeguard and swim instructor and all about our High School Lifeguard Training Program. You'll hear from a panel of local aquatic managers, lifeguard instructors, and student lifeguards. They will share what is required and why being a lifeguard or swim instructor is a great first job!

Peter Kirk Pool Winterization Update

Kirkland City Council Approves Next Steps

On February 17th, Kirkland City Council received an update from Parks staff on options to expand swim lesson capacity and year-round enclosure options for Peter Kirk Pool. Given the high cost of the previously discussed enclosure options and competing budget priorities, the goal was to move forward with much needed pool repairs (decking, mechanical, structural, and plumbing) and upgrades in addition to expanding the swim season from May to Sept and upgrading the wading pool to a larger more versatile Activity Pool. Council approved the $10.1 million proposal to move into the design phase and left the door open to continue exploring enclosure options that would further extend seasonality and programming opportunities.

SPLASHForward continues to bring community voices to the process, advocate for investment in a new year-round aquatic center, and foster engagement with the Kirkland Fire Department who would benefit from year round water rescue training, swim skill development, and fitness opportunities.

Peter Kirk Pool Winterization Survey Results

There is great interest in a covered year-round Peter Kirk Pool

Our survey ran from August '25 to February '26 and had 284 responses. 82% of respondents were from Kirkland, 20% were regular users of the pool, and 37% occasionally use the pool. 64.5% would like to see the pools covered and the Activity Pool upgraded. Of all the options, the glass windowed enclosure (manufactured by Open Aire) was favored if cost was not an issue. When cost was known, there was a shift to the lower cost options that included the tent-like Sprung structure or only covering the Activity or Lap pool. The survey did not go into details on the enclosure options or long term maintenance costs. Full results and comments were shared with City Council.

"We need more access to public pools for people of all ages and year round access makes the most sense and best use of it. We need to just do it. I know, easier said than done." - Survery respondent

"Every city around Kirkland has a year round pool. We have many swimmers in our city but we have to travel far to join swim clubs outside of Kirkland because we don’t have access to a year round pool. Please consider making swimming pool an accessible facility for residents of Kirkland!" - Survery respondent

Thank you to all who took the time to fill out our survey!

Welcome Our New Board Members

Our Board is growing! Welcome to our new Board Treasurer Michael Owsiak and Board Director David Armitage. Thinking about getting involved? Reach out to learn how.

David Armitage, Senior VP Capital Markets, CBRE

David brings a deep passion for large scale public private projects that benefit communities, and extensive fundraising experience related to investments of all kinds, in particular real estate investments and developments. He has a keen passion for the water and celebrates the sense of ‘joy’ water can bring to everyone. 

Michael brings his deep finance background and passion for systems, policies, and best financial and nonprofit practices to our Board Treasurer role as we move into our early capital campaign phase. As someone who learned to swim as an adult, he knows firsthand the gateway that learning to swim opens, leading to a lifetime of aquatic opportunities, health, and personal growth. 

Michael Owsiak, CPA, Founder, Owsiak Accounting & Tax Services

Dates to Watch

April 3rd – Friday Night Skill Strengthening Class at the Bellevue Aquatic Center, 8pm - 9pm

April 15th or 21st - SPLASHForward Student Lifeguard Workshop, 5:30pm virtual

April 18th – SPLASHForward Youth Leadership & Advocacy Workshop, 1pm - 3:30pm

April 26th – April Pools Day at the Bellevue Aquatic Center, 12pm - 4pm

Please share this newsletter with a friend and reach out anytime info@splashforward.org

Thank you for your support. Every donation pushes us forward.

It’s been 56 years since the last public pool was built on the Eastside and our community deserves facilities that allow for equitable access to essential skills and aquatic opportunities.

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