White Water Aquatics, a swim team who swam out of Evergreen Pool in North Highline until the pool closed in September, hopes to reopen the pool by the first of the year with community donations.

King County has asked White Water Aquatics to raise $100,000 before they reopen the pool. White Water Aquatics created White Water Aquatics Management (WWAM) to take over management of the pool if it is reopened.

A loan for $30,000 has been secured by WWAM and another $8,000 has been raised in donations.

WWAM is a non-profit organization, so any donations are tax deductible. In the event WWAM is not able to reopen the pool all of the money will be returned to the donors.

"It is kind of a unique challenge because Mt. Rainier (Pool) had the backing of the three cities to bring in revenue," WWA Head Coach Joel Schweiger. "We don't have any of that."

In this years King County budget, $300,000 was reserved to renovate Evergreen. WWAM President Ed Marrs said in a statement that it is very important the county pass the budget as it is.

County council members have expressed their desire to use the money to repair the pool.

According to the county parks department, the money must be used within the park's budget and cannot go back into the general fund.

Marrs said people should contact the council and let them know the pool is important.

The money would pay for the drains to be replaced, bringing them up to code, as well as fixing the roof, among other things. Schweiger said there were major repairs that needed to be done.

When the county was running the pool, it cost $270,000 a year to run, and there was a shortfall of $70,000 to $100,000 a year.

Schweiger said he feels the pool was underutilized. He said WWAM is looking at different staffing options and different scheduling to try and bring in more user groups.

WWAM expects the pool to be self-sustaining once it gets running. Schweiger said they are looking for continued community donations to fund different programs within the pool.

"We are looking at all private community donations to raise the reserve to keep it open and to fund lesson programs for lower income kids. Scholarship programs and that kind of stuff," he said.

The Highline School District will become the owner of the pool in March. WWAM is currently working with the district to work out a lease agreement.

WWAM would be responsible for all the managerial aspects of the pool.

"(The county) is hurting for money and the school district is in the same boat. They just don't have the money or really the desire to run the pool," Schweiger said.