New Rec Center is exceeding expectations

It’s been open less than three months and already Lynnwood’s new Rec Center is proving to be a huge draw.

It’s so popular, every open swim session has sold out since they opened April 28.

“That means a minimum of 300 people have entered the building for a 2 ½ period.  On many days, we are allowing additional people into the facility about 90 minutes after the start of the open swim. This is helping to eliminate complaints about not getting into the facility,” Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Sordel told us.

They plan to offer more open swim times in September.

An average of 10,000 people come through the doors each week – and they’re not all from the immediate area. An informal poll recently found visitors from Arlington, Whidbey Island, Ferndale, Sultan, Tacoma and Kent. There was even a family on vacation from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

While he didn’t have the exact revenue numbers handy, Sordel says they are ahead of where they thought they would be so far. Of course, all these visitors translate into an economic boost for the city.

“It is clear, these people are not only enjoying the Rec Center, but I believe many are spending money in our restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations,” he said.

They plan to develop a tool to measure the exact economic impact of the facility.

  1. While it is encouraging that people are using the newfacility, I hope the people of Lynnwood realize the opportunity cost for the Rec Center is enormous. The debt service alone on 25M of debt could be $100,000to $150,000 PER MONTH (depending on the interest rate and amortization which I don’t believe has been disclosed to the public) and why should we be encouraged that people are coming
    from all over the region to use it? Our city and the taxpayers are now on the hook so that we can have facility that serves Everett and Shoreline and travelers from as far as Louisiana? Even with all the interest and use this will
    still be a negative cash flow and be a drain on more important departments.  Right now our police department is critically understaffed
    and so may I ask why we should be encouraged that we have a regional aquatic
    facility. It speaks volumes about priories, does it not?

    I wish we would have remodeled the Rec Center for 9 M and tried to lease the front 3 or 4 acres of old Lynnwood track and soccer fields from the Edmonds School District. The front part could have been a park and the back could be Costco and the rest of the commercial development. I heard people say that they felt like the track was an oasis in the heart of the urban city. I personally used it every day and I feel like that scenario would have served more people.  That was something that would have been worth investing in…

    1. Sid, I compeltely agree that Lynnwood should have stepped in and invested in the track at the old LHS. It was not only a field, it was a community gathering place that was used for the big Forth of July celebration.

      Apparently in the coming years the school district will move Alderwood Middle School from the current site on 28th Avenue  in unincorpoarted Lynnwood to a site near Martha Lake. I really hope the city purchases or leases the land that AMS is currently on, we really need park space in that neighborhood rather than another shopping center or housing development.

      1. Amen!  We need a neighborhood park and the AMS site is ideal. there are no parks east of 44th Ave. West and having one at this site would be a great location, close to stores and hotels/motels.   Hope the city will really consider this possibility. The only park closest to Locust Park, and having one at the AMS site, would bring more people to Lynnwood. 

      2. Amen!  We need a neighborhood park and the AMS site is ideal. there are no parks east of 44th Ave. West and having one at this site would be a great location, close to stores and hotels/motels.   Hope the city will really consider this possibility. The only park closest to Locust Park, and having one at the AMS site, would bring more people to Lynnwood. 

        1. Spruce Park and Pioneer Park, both wonderful parks are both east of 44th and the city will soon build another one in a neighborhood east of 36th. There is Heritage Park which is right next to AMS but that isn’t really a community gathering place. The closest true community park is Logan Park which pretty soon will become part of Bothell.  

          And a problem with the AMS site is that it’s just outside of city limits. I happen to live in that neighborhood and I’m sure when the annexation gets on the ballot it will be approved. Everyone around here already thinks they’re in Lynnwood. But not acquiring the AMS site will be a huge mistake for the city. It’s one of the last large open spaces in the area.
          I really hope we elect people to the city council like Sid who understand how important parks are to a community.

          1. I miss the old track and ball fields really bad. I walk for about 1.5 hours a day and walked at the “track” many, many times (usually about 5 times a week).  It was a special place and think it was wrong not to pursue something there.  I now often walk in Spruce park and love the little side spot where it is all natural. I do hope that something can be done for soccer players and softball and such even though I don’t play. Let’s keep our figures crossed…

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