After more than a half century teaching children on Central Whidbey how to swim, a beloved program is forced to move.

The Coupeville Lions Club’s Learn to Swim program will move from its longtime home at the Admirals Cove pool to the Sierra Country Club pool located north of Fort Ebey State Park.

In addition to moving, the program will be less extensive than children have enjoyed in previous years.

“The sad part is I’ll be serving half as many kids, the good part is we’re serving 100 kids,” said Cindy Van Dyk, longtime coordinator of the swim program.

The Lions Club swim program had to move because  repairs to the  Admirals Cove pool won’t be ready in time for the lessons. Also, the fee the Lion’s Club pays the Admirals Cove community for use of the pool was set to increase.

Van Dyk said the Lions Club traditionally offers the swim lessons after the school year ends and before the Fourth of July, which is a time many families leave for vacation.

However, the Admirals Cove pool won’t be ready until July because workers have to repair damage caused by the cold winter.

Dustin Frederick, president of the Admirals Cove Homeowners Association, said when the water was turned on, workers discovered significant plumbing leaks in the pool’s pipes that needed to be repaired.

“We got caught by surprise with an early freeze,” Frederick said.

He added that the homeowners association wanted to increase the fee charged to the Lions Club for the pool use to recoup the costs associated with offering the swim lessons.

The Coupeville Lions Club paid $2,300 to use the Admirals Cove pool, which Frederick said wasn’t enough to cover such costs as lifeguards and the propane needed to heat the pool to 83 degrees.

He said the homeowners association tentatively planned to raise the fee to approximately  $4,500, but that figure was negotiable.

“I think we probably could have come to an agreement,” Frederick said.

Lions Club officials instead chose the Sierra Club pool for its swim lessons. But since the pool is smaller than the Admirals Cove facility, less space is available for children. Van Dyk sent out 180 invitations to last year’s swimmers and any available space will be filled by an in-person registration, which takes place today, Wednesday, May 25, from noon to 7:30 p.m. at the Coupeville Public Library on Alexander Street. Cost for the lessons is $35 per child.

The Coupeville Lions Club has been offering swim lessons to Central Whidbey children for 52 years. The children participate in half-hour sessions for seven days. Van Dyk said offering a second session was discussed, but it would prove too difficult for the volunteer instructors.

Fourteen teenagers are scheduled to volunteer for the session and it would be tough for them to spend eight hours in the pool, especially since some of them are trying to work summer jobs.

The Admirals Cove pool is at a watershed moment. Although popular with families, the aging facility needs to be refurbished. The homeowners association board has had at least three estimates completed and it looks like improvements will cost $145,000.

Frederick said the pool needs to be resurfaced, a heat pump installed and restrooms, showers and office refurbished. He said the heat pump would save between $12,000 and 15,000 in propane costs. The energy savings the heat pump provide would pay off its purchase and installation in three years.

How to fund such a project remains an unanswered question. Homeowners association members recently rejected a one-time assessment to fund rehabilitation.

Frederick said the association is now looking at other options to finance the project, such as getting a bank loan and incorporating payments into member dues.

He said the homeowners board is committed to maintaining the pool and he hopes the Lions Club will  eventually move its swim program back to the pool.

“We want to keep it there for another 50 years,” Frederick said.