As old as its hosting city, the King County Aquatics Center celebrates 17 years of service to the community as a local recreational arena.

Regarded as one of the Federal Way's most heralded achievements, the center brings in over $8 million each year to local businesses, according to state Senate Resolution 8612, a bill that commends the center and the work of those involved with its operation.

The Aquatics Center hosts about 60 events each year, including high-profile events such as Olympic trials.

This month the center also offered special events commemorating its anniversary, including a free community swim and cake.

The Aquatics Center offers its own swimming lessons, from infant/parent programs on up to adult lessons. The facility provides a home for 16 clubs of competitive aquatic sports. Banquet facilities are also available for rent.

"It was a hard-fought battle to bring the Aquatics Center to Federal Way," said King County Councilman Pete Von Reichbauer.

He added that it was an important move to provide for the growing number of swimmers in the area and to encourage kids to pursue aquatic sports.

The facility's goal is to recuperate about half of the cost of its operation, according to a recent King County Parks and Recreation Department report.

The four-year levy for parks and recreation keeps the facility's budget at a balance. Last year's target for cost-recovery was not met, recovering 43 percent instead of the 50 percent goal.

The parks levy ends this year. In the fall, another one will be on the ballot.

In addition, new sources of income are contributing to a steady rise in revenue, according to the report.

From 2005-2006, revenue from the Aquatics Center increased by five percent. Traditionally, income was generated solely by the use of the facilities, classes and the conference center.

Today's Aquatics Center is something different.

King County has successfully found new sources of revenue through new business ventures. According to the Parks and Recreation Department's 2006 fourth quarter report, the Subway store just inside the entry increased its revenue by 26 percent from 2005 to 2006.

The Subway has been so popular that the menu has been expanded.

The center also offers sponsored Wi-Fi Internet access.

A Jazzercise lease and Starbucks advertising also bring in revenue. These funding sources are all becoming increasingly important components of funding, said Mike Dunwiddie, King County Aquatics Center coordinator. These businesses now collaboratively generate seven percent of the facility's operating budget.

"Our Aquatics Center is recognized as one of the best of its kind in the nation, and this is an exciting opportunity to showcase our facility to an international audience, and also to bring impressive amounts of new revenue into our local economy," said King County Executive Ron Sims in a recent press release.

Most visitors to the center are from out-of-town, and bring in additional money to the area.

According to an economic-impact study done by researchers at the University of Washington in 2002, 90 percent of visitors, including competitors, stay in local Federal Way hotels.

Since opening, the Aquatics Center has hosted over 6.5 million people.

The center was built in 1990 using an endowment from the Weyerhaeuser Corporation for the purpose of hosting The Goodwill Games' diving and swimming events. The Aquatics Center is one of only a few of its kind in the nation, with the ability to host national and international events. The seating available makes it the second-largest indoor facility of its kind in the country.

For more information about the King County Aquatics Center visit http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/kcac/

Cailin Magruder is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.